Re “ ‘Right to Repair’: Skip Question 1” (Editorial, Oct. 26): I couldn’t understand why anyone would spend advertising dollars on what is presented as a moot point, but now it’s clear. If voters skip Question 1, the auto manufacturers would get an extra three years to comply.
What’s at stake is independent repair shops’ ability to diagnose problems in today’s complex automobiles. To do so, manufacturers must make trouble codes and other information available to businesses outside their dealer network. This is something an IT department should be able to set up relatively quickly, but the compromise gives the manufacturers until 2018 to do so. The original measure had a due date of 2015, with non-complying manufacturers forbidden to sell cars in Massachusetts.
Comments
Vote "Yes" on 1, 2 and 3. In some communities there is an additional ballot initative, Question 4, supporting action against Citizens United by amending the Constitution to make a clear distinction between a real citizen (you and me) and an artificial citizen (a corporation). It too deserves a "yes" vote.