#Maine #RightToRepair Law Poised to Remain in Flux Even After January 2025 Effective Date
December 19, 2024
"The Automotive Right to Repair Working Group convened by the Maine Attorney General will review proposed legislation that would substantially amend provisions of the Maine Right to Repair Law concerning access to mechanical data from #telematics-equipped vehicles. Meanwhile, it appears provisions of the law requiring manufacturers of vehicles that 'use a telematics system” to comply with standards imposed by an “independent entity' designated by the Attorney General will take effect on January 5, 2025, even though neither the 'independent entity' nor standards for telematics systems will exist by that date.
"In November 2023, Maine voters approved a ballot initiative to require that, within one year of the effective date, vehicles using a telematics system sold in that state be equipped with an interoperable, standardized, and owner-authorized access platform across all of the manufacturer's makes and models. The statute requires that this platform be able to 'securely communicate' all 'mechanical data' emanating from the vehicle; make this data 'directly accessible' by the vehicle owner through a mobile-based application; and, upon authorization of the vehicle owner, 'all mechanical data must be directly accessible by an independent repair facility.' The statute gives vehicle owners and independent repair facilities denied access to mechanical data a private right of action to recover treble damages or $10,000, whichever is greater.
"The ballot initiative further requires the Attorney General to designate an 'independent entity' to 'establish and administer' access to vehicle-generated data that is transmitted by a 'standardized access platform.' The 'independent entity' is empowered to refer violations to the Attorney General, who in turn can 'institute an action' to 'enforce' the law, although no remedy for such a violation is defined in the statute. The requirements for telematics-equipped vehicles are supposed to take effect January 5, 2025—one year after the effective date of the ballot initiative—but to date the Maine Attorney General has not designated an 'independent entity' to develop standards or otherwise regulate data access platforms."
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/maine-right-to-repair-law-poised-to-3403488/
#BigAuto #RightToRepair #RightToRepairMovement #SolarPunkSunday
December 19, 2024
"The Automotive Right to Repair Working Group convened by the Maine Attorney General will review proposed legislation that would substantially amend provisions of the Maine Right to Repair Law concerning access to mechanical data from #telematics-equipped vehicles. Meanwhile, it appears provisions of the law requiring manufacturers of vehicles that 'use a telematics system” to comply with standards imposed by an “independent entity' designated by the Attorney General will take effect on January 5, 2025, even though neither the 'independent entity' nor standards for telematics systems will exist by that date.
"In November 2023, Maine voters approved a ballot initiative to require that, within one year of the effective date, vehicles using a telematics system sold in that state be equipped with an interoperable, standardized, and owner-authorized access platform across all of the manufacturer's makes and models. The statute requires that this platform be able to 'securely communicate' all 'mechanical data' emanating from the vehicle; make this data 'directly accessible' by the vehicle owner through a mobile-based application; and, upon authorization of the vehicle owner, 'all mechanical data must be directly accessible by an independent repair facility.' The statute gives vehicle owners and independent repair facilities denied access to mechanical data a private right of action to recover treble damages or $10,000, whichever is greater.
"The ballot initiative further requires the Attorney General to designate an 'independent entity' to 'establish and administer' access to vehicle-generated data that is transmitted by a 'standardized access platform.' The 'independent entity' is empowered to refer violations to the Attorney General, who in turn can 'institute an action' to 'enforce' the law, although no remedy for such a violation is defined in the statute. The requirements for telematics-equipped vehicles are supposed to take effect January 5, 2025—one year after the effective date of the ballot initiative—but to date the Maine Attorney General has not designated an 'independent entity' to develop standards or otherwise regulate data access platforms."
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/maine-right-to-repair-law-poised-to-3403488/
#BigAuto #RightToRepair #RightToRepairMovement #SolarPunkSunday
Maine Right to Repair Law Poised to Remain in Flux Even After January 2025 Effective Date - Seyfarth's Future of Automotive Series | JD Supra
The Automotive Right to Repair Working Group convened by the Maine Attorney General will review proposed legislation that would substantially amend...JD Supra
LukefromDC •
Best way to avoid this with cars is to ensure that telematics beyond removable standalone systems (e.g early GM Onstar boxes probably were separate) were not even an option in a used car being considered. In most cases that means pre-2009, pre-2000 if you don't know what you are doing.
Note that engines can be rebuilt at least twice and indefinately for those using replaceable cylinder sleeves. Transmissions can be rebuilt as many times as needed. Same for brakes etc. Cars needing major work can be cheap BTW