ARA, Congress to Ensure Flood Damaged Vehicles Don't Enter Used Market
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) is calling on Congress to review implementation and enforcement of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). As many of the nation’s waterways hit historic crests, thousands of motor vehicles from Illinois to Mississippi have been submerged under these waters. Now more than ever, it is essential that NMVTIS be fully implemented and the underlying statute enforced to help prevent the unknowing sale of these flood-damaged vehicles. NMVTIS, a national electronic system that provides consumers with valuable information about a vehicle’s condition and history, can play a crucial role in helping ensure that these flood-damaged vehicles are not sold to unsuspecting consumers in the used-car market. “After Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that truckloads of flooded vehicles were being taken out of Louisiana to other states where they were dried out, cleaned, and readied for sale to unsuspecting consumers in states that do not brand flood vehicles”, said Michael Wilson CEO of the ARA .
“NMVTIS must be fully implemented and utilized now so that similar events are not repeated, and flood damaged motor vehicles can be efficiently tracked before unsuspecting consumers purchase these vehicles”, Wilson added. Flood damaged vehicles are considered ticking time bombs, slowly being eaten away as water corrodes onboard computers and other vital components like airbags systems. These vehicles are deemed unfit by insurance companies, but too often are given token repairs and sold to unsuspecting consumers. NMVTIS helps prevent vehicle histories from being “washed” or concealed because it serves as a national repository of vehicle brand information. Fully implemented, NMVTIS will have data from every state and will be queried before any state issues a vehicle a new title, making it extremely difficult to wash a “flood” designation from a motor vehicle. Such fraudulent and unsafe practices can only be stopped if all states participate fully in NMVTIS and all “individuals” and “entities” that are required to report to the system are held accountable. “Regrettably, DOJ has limited resources to do this. Con-
gress should intercede and permit individual state enforcement agencies to work more closely with DOJ to identify and implement efficient methods to increased participation. One way to enhance the program’s success is to allow the fines collected from NMVTIS violators to be directly allocated back into the program and its law enforcement activities. Only with sufficient resources can DOJ and the appropriate state law enforcement colleagues target all businesses/individuals whom are operating under the radar and fulfill their obligations under the statute”, Wilson asserts. Since 1943, the Automotive Recyclers Association (“ARA”) represents an industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of “green” automotive parts, and the proper recycling of inoperable motor vehicles. ARA represents the interests of over 4,500 auto recycling facilities in the United States and fourteen other countries around the world. With programs such as the Certified Automotive Recycler Program (CAR) and other partnerships, ARA members continue to provide consumers with quality, low-cost alternatives for vehicle replacement parts.
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CIF Makes Donation to Japan Tsunami Relief
The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) is proud to announce its donation of $1,650 to the American Red Cross to benefit the victims of the Japan tsunami from the donations made through the Collision Industry Conference (CIC). The donations were collected at the CIC meeting held at the Meadowlands Expo Center in New Jersey this past March after industry member Toby Chess suggested a collection for those in need. “It’s always heartwarming to see people, even in these hard times, reach out to help others who have lost so much” said Bill Shaw, President of the CIF Board of Trustees. Relief and clean-up efforts are ongoing in Japan due to the catastrophic levels of devastation that resulted from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami back on March 11, 2011.
AGRSS Promotes Fixing Damaged Windshields
As shop owners and techs know, car maintenance isn’t just under the hood. A cracked windshield is a safety risk. It can impair the driver’s vision and put passengers at risk. Most automotive safety experts rank the windshield as the third most important safety component in today’s vehicles, behind seatbelts and airbags. Laws require seatbelt use and prevent tampering with airbags, but there are no laws that govern replacement windshield installation. The Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council (AGRSS) promotes safe auto glass industry standards, which an auto glass technician should follow. Consumers should ask these questions before a replacement windshield installation: • Will the old adhesive be removed from the vehicle frame? If the adhesive isn’t removed down to the adhesive manufacturer’s recommended level, the fit may not be tight and the new adhesive won’t bond correctly. • Will the technician wear gloves to keep from contaminating the glass? If oil and dirt get on the edges, the new adhesive (called urethane) may not bond correctly. • Will the new urethane adhesive stand up to the high deployment pressure of airbags? The best available manufacturer equivalent urethane adhesive should be used, not butyl tape. Ask for adhesive made by Dow, Sika or the original car maker’s adhesive supplier. • How long does the urethane adhesive need to set until the vehicle can be driven? Every urethane has a “safe drive-away time.”
www.autobodynews.com | JUNE 2011 AUTOBODY NEWS 31