Welcome to SSDGNY! Our schedule of monthly Bulletins and quarterly Industry Newsletters has now been augmented by the addition of a website, www.ssdgny.org to keep members abreast of important developments affecting their businesses. We make it a point to keep on top of events as they occur and to inform you of their significance. The website has the advantage of communicating breaking events and information instantaneously to our membership.

Breaking News!

First Right of Refusal Bill number S7410B – ESPADA

We just got word today that Governor Patterson has vetoed this bill.   We have worked very hard to help get this bill passed and signed by the Governor.  We attended a press conference with Senator Espada and also sent memos of support of this bill to the Governor’s desk.  After all of our efforts the bill was vetoed.  When we receive the veto text we will revert to you to let you know what the details were.

ASA AGAINST OUR INDUSTRY

As you are all aware we are continually fighting for the Right To Repair Act to be passed in our State.  The New York Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection and the Assembly Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection held a joint hearing June 9th  to hear testimony on the proposed New York State Automotive Right to Repair Act, Senate Bill 7302 and Assembly Bill 6634. We attended the hearing where our President, Peter Kischak and a reputable member Joe Marconi of Osceola Garage in Baldwin Place, testified on behalf of our industry.  Their testimony was extremely thorough and consistent.  One of the State Assemblymen was impressed by them and commented on how well put together their testimony was.  However, The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is against us in this fight.  They claim that all the information is available and we are unqualified technicians that don’t have the knowledge needed to have in order to repair these vehicles.  They published a press release showing they made a presentation just as we did but they were in opposition of the bill.  We are awaiting for the report of their findings from Senator Peralta and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer.

New Jersey Safety Inspection Program

The State of New Jersey has officially eliminated Safety Inspections for passenger vehicles and motorcycles.  However the continuation of Safety Inspections for vehicles registered for commercial use, including: cars with commercial plates, taxi-cabs, livery service vehicles such as limos, ambulances registered by the NJ Department of Health, passenger buses, governmental vehicles, vehicles registered to not-for-profit organizations, and all diesel-powered vehicles plated commercially with a gross-weight of 9,999 lbs or less. These vehicles must be presented annually for Safety Inspections.

An announcement that any vehicle rejected before August 1st for a Safety Inspection defect will still be required to get those safety issues fixed before passing re-inspection.  Cars due for inspection prior to August 1st (but not presented for an initial inspection before August 1st) will only have to pass an emissions test.
Hopefully this will not impact the NYS DMV to make the same changes for our program.  This is a prime example of why your support for this association is important.  New Jersey Association reached out to their members and lost this battle.   We call on you from time to time to contact your local legislators to help on our endeavors.  A five minute phone call that shows your support for a cause can help save your industry from falling.
Please help us to help you and let’s make a difference!

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