Taking The Hill
by Stephen B. McDonald Salvage Vehicle Titling Analysis
ASA is distributing an issue summary and analysis of federal legislation that addresses the lack of uniformity in current motor vehicle registration and titling practices. The legislation, introduced in the last Congress, defines a "salvage vehicle" as one whose total cost to repair exceeds 75 percent of its retail value. The bill also fails to mandate post-repair safety inspections for rebuilt salvage vehicles. ASA has been a proponent of uniform titling laws to protect consumers from the activities of those who steal, dismantle or rebuild and resell salvage vehicles. The association's analysis argues against the salvage definition in favor of one that protects the vehicle owner's economic interests and proposes a program of comprehensive and consistent post-repair inspection criteria for all salvage vehicles.Clean Air Regulations
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spent about $20 billion in 1990 to pay for cleaner-burning cars, cleaner factories and the hundreds of other measures required by federal law to improve the quality of the nation's air. In its study of the Clean Air Act, the EPA found that Americans received roughly $20 of value in reduced risks of death, illness and other adverse effects for every one dollar spent to control air pollution. The country spent an estimated $436 billion enforcing clean air regulations and gained about $6.8 trillion in benefits. The 1970 Clean Air Act required the industry to reduce and control the emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and lead.CSCV Safety Inspection Bill
The Coalition for Safer, Cleaner Vehicles (CSCV) is developing model safety inspection legislation for promotion in the states. The measure will seek to establish a periodic annual staggered safety inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for all motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers and converter dollies. The bill will call for inspection of all safety-critical components and related items; set standards for the certification of inspectors and repair facilities; and establish criteria for inspection station permits. The bill will not require that repairs of defects be made at the inspection facility.104th Congress
The second session of the 104th Congress adjourned Oct. 4, 1996. The adjournment came 32 days before the election, creating the longest window for full-time campaigning since 1992. Although the statistics show that legislators spent fewer days in session, lawmakers managed to pass more bills, report more measures out of committee and hash out more legislation in conference than in the first session. Both the House and Senate passed about 46 percent more measures in the first nine months of this year than they did in the same period in 1995. The Senate passed a total of 431 bills through September, up from 235 for the same period a year ago; while the House passed 521 in the first nine months, up from 280 for the same period in 1995.For additional legislative information, all news releases from the Automotive Service Association Washington office are available on the ASA Web Site.
ASA Main Page || AutoInc. Main Page
Mechanical Repair In The Collision Shop ||
Remanufactured Engines: An Overlooked Alternative ||
Effective Communications In The Workplace ||
Service Selling And Customer Convenience
A Look At The 104th Congress || Classic Headache? ||
Guest Editorial: Coordinate Your Efforts For Optimal Results
Tech To Tech || TechTips || News Briefs || Taking The Hill
Directions || Around ASA || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLIV No. 12, December 1996