Hammer & Dolly Tech Writer Testifies in RI

On June 5, Hammer & Dolly technical writer Larry Montanez (P&L Consultants) appeared before the Rhode Island Senate Committee on the Judiciary as an expert witness on behalf of the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island (ABARI) to offer professional comments and opinions on a variety of industry-specific bills. One piece of legislation in particular, Senate Bill 2833, aims to prohibit insurance companies from requiring the use of used or remanufactured airbags and/or suspension parts in the repair of a vehicle.

Opposing the bill, LKQ Government Affairs Manager Andreas Heiss stated that shops that perform airbag removal are subject to "very strict federal safety standards," adding that technicians who perform this procedure are "trained to remove these airbags in a certain way" to ensure consumer safety. "There's no rational basis for the restriction of a non-deployed airbag; it's a safe, effective alternative," he argued. "Any restriction on their use would just further extend the monopoly for car companies and harm the Rhode Island consumers by giving them [only one] option — to put in a brand-new airbag."

Unconvinced by this testimony, Senator Stephen R. Archambault (D-District 22) later asked Montanez (who he called "the only expert I've heard tonight come before us") if such standards actually existed. "There's no federal standard on removing an airbag out of a vehicle; I'd like to see one if one exists," replied Montanez, who added that although there is a federal standard on what EDRs [event data recorders] have to record, there is no existing standard on taking an airbag in or out. "The only standard on taking it in or out is what the manufacturer says is the torque rating on the bolts, and if you can re-use the bolts or not," he reiterated.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Dawson Hodgson (R-District 35) praised Montanez's technical knowledge and insight into the issues addressed at the hearing. "The technical expertise that ABARI brings to the table every year at these hearings, and the professionalism that you are representing your industry with, is impressive," he said.

Complete video of the hearing (including Montanez's extensive testimony) is available for free streaming at http://ricaptv.discovervideo.com/embedviews/vod?c=all&w=640&h=480&s=1