What is '#RightToRepair,' and why are #MaineVoters being asked to weigh in on it?

Maine Public | By Steve Mistler
Published September 21, 2023

"#Question4 asks #Maine voters: 'Do you want to require vehicle manufacturers to standardize on-board diagnostic systems and provide remote access to those systems and mechanical data to owners and independent repair facilities?'

"Maine would become the second state in the nation to require automakers to make onboard repair and diagnostic information available to independent mechanics if voters approve Question 4 in November.

"The concept is relatively straightforward and the legislation closely mirrors a law in #Massachusetts that 75% of voters approved in 2020. However, implementation of the Bay State law is mired in a legal battle pitting #AutoManufacturers against #consumers and #RepairShops. Meanwhile, the federal government is sending mixed signals about whether it’s safe to share a car’s telematics data, which increasingly includes information about people’s driving behavior in addition to vehicle repair diagnostics.

"The Maine initiative is part of a burgeoning right-to-repair movement in the U.S. that hinges on the idea that consumers should have the ability to fix the products that they purchase, or at least have a choice in who does the repair for them.

"At least 25 states have considered right-to-repair legislation in recent years, but the proposals are not always specific to cars. #Colorado enacted a law this year centering on the repair of #FarmingEquipment. #NewYork recently enacted a right-to-repair law for #electronic devices such as #smartphones, #tablets or #laptop computers. #Minnesota passed a law similar to New York’s, and Maine may do the same next year if lawmakers enact an #electronics proposal introduced in April."

Full article:
https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-09-21/what-is-right-to-repair-and-why-are-maine-voters-being-asked-to-weigh-in-on-it

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