Legislatures Paying More Attention to Auto Glass Issues
Legislative calendars vary widely from state to state. Some are on two-year cycles, like the U.S. Congress, while others are on one-year cycles. Many states legislatures on one-year cycles meet for short periods, 60 or 90 days, starting in January.
As the first of these sessions concludes, it is apparent that state legislators across the nation have become increasingly aware of and interested in auto glass issues. AGSC has reviewed and provided education on bills involving auto glass replacement safety standards and calibration on ADAS-equipped vehicles.
Maryland regulations implementing that state’s 2021 Auto Glass Replacement Safety Law became effective in March. The new regulations, issued by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration closely mirror the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS standard). All Maryland auto glass service companies will now be required to follow the safety standard in performing windshield replacements.
Thus far this year, AGSC has testified in support of bills in Massachusetts and Virginia similar to the 2021 Maryland law. The bills require the appropriate state agency—the Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia State Police—to issue regulations that meet or exceed the AGRSS Standards. The Massachusetts bill is currently under committee review, while the Virginia bill was continued until 2022, giving
the stakeholders time to meet and attempt to form a consensus.
Arizona passed calibration legislation that will require auto glass services companies to provide certain information to customers and ensure that their recalibrations of ADAS-equipped vehicles meet or exceed manufacturer’s specifications. The bill, signed by the Governor in April, will become effective in July. It requires that customers are informed when calibration is necessary and that they receive an itemized description of the work to be performed. Auto glass companies will be subject to a $2,500 fine—that’s
right $2,500—per violation for not complying with the statutory requirements.
Arizona new law substantially differed from the version of the legislation introduced initially. The original Arizona bill, and bills introduced earlier this year in Illinois and Maryland, were based on a law passed in Utah in 2020-2021 and were focused more tightly on pricing and insurance issues. AGSC did not support the bill.
As more ADAS-equipped vehicles hit the road in the coming years, we should expect state legislatures to attempt to address consumer protection and safety issues associated with the calibration of ADAS cameras.
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