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The Virginia Organizing Project is alerting Virginians to a potential health threat being posed by legislators who evidently have taken an oath to serve the interests of business, rather than their constituents.
Two bills introduced in the General Assembly would allow cars seriously damaged by water to be sold in the state without a title denoting the damage. The bills, SB 539 and HB 392, increase from the current $1,000 to $5,000 the amount of water damage a vehicle must sustain before it legally must be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Under the proposed legislation, for a car to be required to carry a title denoting it as a salvage vehicle, more than $5,000 of damage must have been paid out by an insurance company. Without some sort of provision for reporting the damage, prospective buyers of the cars will have no way of knowing about it.
SB 539 was sponsored by state Sen. Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg) and has passed committee. HB 392 was introduced by Del. Matt Lohr (R-Harrisonburg). It, too, has passed committee.
(According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Sen. Newman received a contribution of $3,000 from the Virginia Auto Dealers Association.) |
| Dangers from cars with water damage first became known after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and so-called "Katrina cars" began to flood the marketplace. The United States Congress held hearings to investigate this problem. It was determined then that water damage can create serious health problems for the purchasers, as well as potential safety problems.
Cars with that sort of damage could be devastating to persons with serious allergies to mold and mildew. Unless the entire interior of the auto is gutted and replaced, mold and bacteria may be growing under carpets, in seat cushions, etc.
Mechanical problems include body rust and electrical system problems. Also, many insurance companies will not write an insurance policy for a flood-damaged car.
I don't have any problem with persons buying or selling "Katrina cars." It probably would make buyers able to get good deals on used cars if they want to assume the risk. Also, sellers of cars that weren't damaged enough to be declared by insurance as "total losses" would be able to recoup some value.
My problem is with giving the seller an unfair advantage in the marketplace by allowing information to be withheld from the buyer. After all, the worshippers at the altar of the "free market" assume that buyer and seller both have knowledge in a transaction that enables them to make rational decisions. That's not possible if legislators in the pocket of monied interests make sure the buyer is disadvantaged.
A side note: I would recommend that citizens regularly go to Richmond Sunlight and keep an eye on what is going on in Richmond.
(http://www.richmondsunlight.com/ ) |
