Colo. gets anti-steering bill
WASHINGTON-Colorado Gov. Bill Owens signed a bill prohibiting insurance companies from requiring their claimants to go to a particular repair shop for repairs, the Automotive Service Association said.
Introduced by state Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, House Bill 1253 encourages competition and prohibits unfair and discriminatory insurance practices, ASA said. Under the bill, insurers can't force or ``induce by incentive'' a claimant to use a particular repair shop. In addition, the anti-steering bill says insurance companies can't use disincentives to discourage use of a specific shop.
``The Automotive Service Association supported this legislation, and we are very pleased to see Gov. Owens sign it,'' said Bob Redding, the ASA's representative in Washington. ``The new law will foster competition and free trade within Colorado's automotive aftermarket industry.''
AAIA offers legislative action info
BETHESDA, Md.-Aimed at building grassroots activism, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) has launched a ``Legislative Action Center,'' enabling individuals to quickly and easily create and send a message to an elected official.
The AAIA said the center-located at the ``government'' section of the group's www.aftermarket.org Web site-``will make it significantly easier for individuals involved in the aftermarket to be legislative activists. To access a list of issues critical to the aftermarket, go to ``grassroots activities'' and click on ``Legislative Action Center.'' Visitors can then click under the issue of interest on ``write your legislators.''
After entering contact information, a Web site visitor can edit the letter before it is either sent by e-mail or printed out and faxed to the elected official. Participants then will receive an e-mail notification that the letter has been sent, along with a copy of the letter for their records.
The AAIA said critical issues include the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, asbestos litigation reform, association health plans and class action reform.