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Right to Repair Movement Made Strides in 2023, Looks Forward to 2024 As 2023 comes to a close, the CAR Coalition is looking back on key milestones in the effort to pass the federal REPAIR and SMART acts, as well as state bills that would address the right to repair issue.
majority—more than 80%—of Mainers voted “yes” on the state’s automotive right to repair referendum, adding momentum to the growing national push for right to repair protections.
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December: REPAIR and SMART Act co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Sophie Shulman, warning that the agency’s proposed guidance for implementation of Massachusetts’ Data Access Law might unfairly harm independent repairers. November: Members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce unanimously voted to advance the REPAIR Act to the full committee for consideration. Less than a week later, an overwhelming
October: At a White House National Economic Council (NEC) roundtable, key administration officials, state legislative leaders and industry representatives—including Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan, NEC Director Lael Brainard and Allstate’s Senior Vice President Don Jones, representing the CAR Coalition—highlighted growing bipartisan support for right to repair protections. September: During a U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce hearing, lawmakers and auto industry professionals expressed their support for federal right to repair legislation like the REPAIR Act. Earlier that month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics l CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
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Vol. 14 / Issue 11 / February 2024
REGIONAL NEWS
Maryland Man Sentenced for PPP Fraud Scheme Reginald Alphonso Hopkins, 52, of Prince George’s County in Maryland, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding more than $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds, and applying for another $3.1 million. Hopkins pleaded guilty to the scheme in September, and was sentenced Jan. 10 by U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett. Between June 2020 and March 2021, a co-conspirator submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for Prestige Executive Transportation, Prestige 24/7 Auto Sales & Services LLC and Prestige Assisted Living Inc., all owned by Hopkins. The applications falsely claimed the companies in 2019 had a combined 54 employees who were
paid a total of nearly $5 million. Based on the fraudulent submissions, nearly $1 million in three separate PPP loans was funded. Hopkins gave the coconspirator a total of $177,000 in kickback payments. Prestige Assisted Living did not obtain a license to operate as an assisted living facility until Dec. 18, 2020. It was authorized to have four beds. Moreover, even after it obtained its license, Prestige Assisted Living never paid wages to any employee. A bank account statement for the assisted living facility was also fabricated, showing a beginning and ending balance of $123,500— when in fact the balances were l CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
REGIONAL NEWS
NY Senator Proposes Safety Bill for Heavy Autonomous Vehicles New York State Sen. Pete Harckham, D-40, introduced a new bill, S.7758, seeking to mandate the presence of trained human operators in autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds on New York roads. “The Teamsters applaud Sen. Harckham for introducing legislation that will keep New York roads safe,” said Louis A. Picani, president of Teamsters Local 456. There has been growing concern over recent incidents where autonomous vehicles caused
accidents and traffic disruptions, including when a woman in San Francisco was killed after being struck and dragged by a Cruise robotaxi. S.7758 aims not only to enhance road safety but also to protect the livelihoods of those in the trucking industry. New York’s trucking sector supports approximately 270,000 jobs, including about 58,300 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. “This bill would ensure that good jobs stay in New York, with the people l CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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Columnist Mike Anderson: Increase Your Auto Body Shop’s Closing Ratio by Countering Customer Concerns Columnist Toby Chess: You Can Teach Old Dogs New Tricks
Columnist Stacey Phillips: CCC Brings in 2024 With New AI Solutions, Google Collaboration Columnist John Yoswick: Unique Collision Repair Training Program Shows Results
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