Legislation Update

The following are updates on legislative proposals that were passed into law this year. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, given the nature of the legislative process, the information provided may not reflect the latest updates. For more information about these or other bills, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) recommends contacting your trade association or visiting www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

Assembly Bill (AB) 949 was approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State on September 6, 2019 and makes it a misdemeanor for an automotive repair dealer to install an “unsafe used tire,” as specified, but does not apply to tire repairs, tire rotations, tire balancing, or a tire mounted on a wheel or rim that is temporarily removed from a vehicle and reinstalled on the same vehicle. For more information, read this edition’s article on unsafe used tires.

AB 1538 was approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State on July 30, 2019 and permits an insured to select the auto body repair shop or other repair facility to repair a damaged vehicle, or to decide not to have the vehicle repaired; however, an insurer may require that a damaged vehicle be repaired as a condition for payment if the damage is sufficiently serious that safety features of the vehicle’s operating systems are compromised.

Senate Bill 112 was approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State on September 27, 2019 and updates the noise testing standards for vehicle exhaust systems, and modifies existing law to allow an individual who is arrested or cited for a violation of noise standards to fix the noise violation and provide proof of correction instead of facing other enforcement actions, unless the violation consists of modifying the exhaust system of a motorcycle.

For additional information on legislation or regulation proposals, or to learn about future opportunities for public participation, visit the About BAR page at www.bar.ca.gov.


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