Lemon law – California 2000 (continued)

"Stronger lemon aid – Car Buyers need better shield against unsafe cars"

"Sponsored by Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, a Sacramento-based organization, SB 1718 by Sen. Byron Sher would lower the number of failed fixes [from four] to two for life-threatening defects. It would also extend lemon-law protection to small businesses with five or fewer vehicles.

When the Assembly committee·takes up the bill this week, it should make life easier for the car buyers who end up with lemons, not the companies that sell them."

– Sacramento Bee editorial, August 7, 2000

 

"Sweeter Lemon Law"

"Motorists trying to get rid of a lemon confront a difficult task under California law. Manufacturers and dealers need not repurchase a problem auto until it's been unsuccessfully repaired for the same defect four times, and state law offers no relief at all to small businesses. A bill authored by Sen. Byron Sher (D-Stanford) would strengthen the lemon law by reducing the threshold repair number to two and extending protection to small enterprises.

The legislation would reduce the number of unsafe cars on California highways and offer a huge relief to owners of new cars---or used cars still under the manufacturer's warranty that were built with problems. It has strong support among motorists, firefighters, nurses, senior citizens, and small businesses and has been endorsed by the state attorney general.

The bill, SB 1718 [sponsored by CARS], offers a reasonable solution to a problem that ranks among the top consumer headaches. This measure should be passed and signed into law."

– Los Angeles Times editorial, August 4, 2000