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Parts Order in PA Leads to Arrest in Fatal Crash A broken headlight led to the arrest of a man accused of a hit-and-run accident that left another man dead. Pacurie Huynh, 29, of Upper Darby, PA, was tracked down via a part ordered to repair the Toyota 4Runner he was driving when he allegedly struck the victim, Thomas Quercetti, 28, on Fourth of July last year. Huynh was arrested Feb. 25 and charged with causing an accident that involved death and failing to give information, according to the criminal complaint. Quercetti was walking home from a friend’s house about 1:30 a.m. on the shoulder of the 100 block of
North State Road in Springfield Township, Delaware County, when he was struck by a vehicle. Police said there was no indication that the vehicle tried to stop. Quercetti, who suffered head trauma, a broken leg, and a broken shoulder, and was in critical condition when he was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, died at home on Feb. 20. He had been on life support since July 4, according to Emily Harris, spokeswoman for Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan. The complaint says investigators learned in January that evidence sent to the FBI’s laboratory in Quantico, VA, See Parts Order Arrest, Page 26
VOL. 4 ISSUE 2 APRIL 2013
ALARISE Gears Up for a Busy April: SkillsUSA and First Southern Industry Conference The Alabama Automotive Repair Industry Society of Excellence (ALARISE) is gearing up for a very busy April with two large events coming up. The first big event is the statewide technical schools SkillsUSA competition set for April 24–25. The ALARISE board of directors recently met with Alabama SkillsUSA automotive collision competition director Ronnie Smallwood to discuss how best to support the upcoming contest, and board members quickly learned how very much their support, contributions and participation is valued and needed to make the competition a success.
PAINT AND REFINISH TECHNOLOGIES First of 2 Issues
GCIA Meeting Features Liz Stein and 7th Annual Labor Rate Survey Begins
have the training, facility equipment and consumer care can stand out in an industry that is over saturated with collision repair business who do not have what it takes but appears as if they do. Stein discussed using certification and consumer marketing strategies to market collision repair business to show it has what it takes to repair the consumer’s vehicle back to manufacSee GCIA Meeting, Page 44
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The Georgia Collision Repair Association held its March 21 meeting in Atlanta, GA, featuring two guest speakers. Liz Stein,Vice President of Industry Relations at Assured Performance Network, presented “Using Certification and Consumer Marketing Strategies To Market Your Collision Repair Business.” The discussion focused on how collision repair businesses who really
“The Alabama SkillsUSA Automotive Collision competition becomes a primary focus for ALARISE,” said acting president Steve Plier. “In addition to working with the Mississippi Collision Repair Association to finalize details for the April 26th and 27th Automotive Repair Industry Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi, ALARISE is also turning its attention and efforts to assisting and working to gain the assistance of automotive collision repairers and collision repair vendors to make the April 24th and 25th Alabama SKILLS USA competition a success.” See ALARISE Gears Up, Page 36
• Custom Painter Stories, p. 25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 40 • Companies Talk Tech p. 12, 15 • Tips and Tricks p. 16 • Training and News, p. 12, 14
Maryland Legislation Would Block InsurerMandated Parts Procurement, WMABA: Yes Maryland Delegate Mark N. Fisher (R-27B) has introduced House Bill 1375 regarding replacement parts for damaged vehicles. The bill would prevent insurers from requiring a “specific vendor or process for parts procurement”—in effect it would block requirements like State Farm’s PartsTrader initiative in the state. This legislation is one of the first attempts to address recent insurer initiatives relative to parts procurement. The bill language prohibits an adjuster, appraiser, insurance producer or employee of an insurer from requiring a motor vehicle repair facility to use a specific vendor or process for parts procurement or other necessary material for vehicle repair. The legislation requires an insurer to authorize repairs to be made using genuine crash parts, prohibiting an insurer from requiring repairs to be made using aftermarket crash parts during the five years after the vehicle is manufactured. The insured may consent to the use of aftermarket
crash parts in writing at the time of repair. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and its Collision Division Operations Committee have conducted educational meetings around the country, met with insurer representatives and convened other collision industry segments to discuss crash parts and parts procurement policy. Some collision repair organizations such as Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) worked closely with Delegate Fisher in drafting the language. “We are one hundred percent in support this bill,” said WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler, to a trade media source. “We have already been in contact with several consumer and automobile dealer groups who will also stand with WMABA in support of this measure.” The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Economic Matters.
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