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VOL. 6 ISSUE 3 JUNE 2015
Takata Admits to Fault in Airbag Design, 34 Million Vehicles, Largest Recall in History Ensues
NYSACTA and LIABRA Review Aftermarket Parts Bill During 2015 Lobby Day
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced on May 19 that the air bag manufacturer Takata has acknowledged that a defect exists in its air bag inflators, leading to a national recall of nearly 34 million vehicles. The action, which was initially limited to states with high humidity, has increased the recall to more than 16 million defective passenger-side inflators and more than 17 million driverside inflators. “Vehicles are increasingly bought and sold across state lines and may
On April 2015, representatives from the New York State Auto Collision Technicians Association (NYSACTA) and the Long Island Auto Body Repairmen’s Association (LIABRA) traveled to Albany to lobby their state’s assemblymen and senators. These representatives included Ed Kizenberger, Executive Director of both as- Collision repair representatives from NYSACTA review sociations, Ed Kizenberger lobbying materials Jr., Director Paul O’Connell, Directhe collision repair industry met with lobbyist Pam Madeiros and the staff tor Joe Stelmokas and Hank Hancock. At 8AM, they were joined at the from Greenberg Taurig LLC, NYSLegislative Office Building by over 40 ACTA’s Lobby Law Firm. The event began with Madeiros NYSACTA members from all over the state, coming from Syracuse, Utica, distributing the schedule containing See NYSACTA and LIABRA, Page 24 Albany, Westchester, Putnam, Rock-
by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor
move long distances across the country … it is in the best interest of consumers to expand this recall to all states,” AAA President Marshall Doney said in a company press release. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) press release, over time, moisture causes changes in the structure of the chemical propellant that ignites when the Takata air bag deploys. The degraded propellant, based on ammonia nitrate — commonly used in fertilizer — ignites too quickly, producing excess pressure that causes See Largest Recall, Page 30
CA’s Midnight Body Shops Come Out Into the Light
land, Rochester, Buffalo, Binghamton, Newburgh, New York City and the five boroughs. These representatives from
Seneca, MO, Body Shop Flattened by EF-1 Tornado, Sustains Most Damage Recorded in MO County The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Newton County, MO, the night of May 17 just east of Seneca,
See Midnight Body Shops, Page 50
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
Just the other day, I was in a grocery store parking lot in San Francisco one afternoon when a kid approached me. “Hello sir,” he said. “That’s a bad dent on your bumper there. I can fix it for you.” I laughed, but Patrick Dorais, California BAR Chief he didn’t smile in asks body shops return. I realized he and consumers to was serious. “Rereport any shop that is operating illegally, ally, how old are under the table and/ you?” “10,” he or under the radar replied. I was about
to ask him if he was I-CAR trained, but I resisted. I know this industry is having problems finding good, qualified people, but this is ridiculous, I thought. Then, all of a sudden a car drove up and a gentleman (probably 35-40) looked at me and then nodded at the child. I figured out what was going on rather quickly. It was sneaky, but impressive in a way. He’s using his child to get repair work, just like Tatum O’Neal in the classic film Paper Moon. O’Neal won the Oscar for her performance in 1973 and this kid was a pretty good actor himself. At least he was keeping busy,
Change Service Requested
by Ed Attanasio
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
MO, according to Felicia Lawrence reporting for fourstateshomepage .com. The tornado touched down at Highway 43, four miles south of Seneca at 12:51 AM. It tracked northeast until it lifted four miles west of Neosho at 1:01 AM. The tornado uprooted several trees, destroyed multiple outbuilding structures and blew off roofs on a few barns. Peak winds
were estimated to be around 90 mph. Peak width was about 200 yards and total path of the tornado was 10.4 miles. Newton County officials say J & S Auto Services, located at the intersection of Highway CC and Norway Road, sustained some of the most severe damage in the county. It was completely leveled by the tornado. Community members say it stood at this corner for years and they’re shocked to see it completely destroyed. The news team ran into a man who was looking for his friend that owns the auto body shop to try and help him. The owner is believed to be Johnny Reffett of Neosho, MO, and the business location is 7060 Norway Rd in Neosho. “To see Johnny’s business, like I said, to see anybody when you’re good See EF-1 Tornado, Page 50
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