Bill > H474

This bill establishes new requirements for vehicle registrations in relation to open safety recalls by mandating that the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database for active safety recalls before issuing or renewing vehicle registrations. When an open safety recall is identified, the RMV must send written notice to the vehicle owner describing the recall and explaining that the repairs can typically be performed at no cost by an authorized dealer. Vehicle owners will be required to obtain necessary repairs for open safety recalls before their next registration renewal, and the Registrar can deny registration renewal for vehicles with unaddressed safety recalls. However, the bill provides several exemptions from this requirement, such as when replacement parts are unavailable, when the manufacturer has not made a remedy available, or when the vehicle owner can self-certify extraordinary circumstances preventing recall repair. The bill sends a notice to consumers 50-80 days before registration expiration listing any outstanding safety recalls, and explicitly states that the new requirements do not alter manufacturer or dealer liability under existing common law. The goal of the legislation appears to be ensuring vehicle safety by proactively encouraging timely completion of critical safety-related repairs.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H474