HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 14, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Late yesterday, Governor Mark S. Schweiker signed Senate Bill 286, a measure to expand the Pennsylvania Lemon Law to provide free legal help to Pennsylvania lessees. The change marks the first major amendment to the Pennsylvania Lemon Law since it was enacted in 1984. The change will be enacted within 60 days.
According to R.H. Polk, leasing makes up 20% of all PA new car sales and 26% of all PA light utility truck sales each year.
Under the current Law, Pennsylvania consumers who purchase their car may be entitled to a new car or the refund of their purchase price if their car has a substantial defect that first occurs in the first 12 months or 12,000 miles and can not be fixed within three repair attempts; or if the car is out of service for 30 or more calendar days due to the non-conformity. Under this Law, consumers are also entitled to cost-free legal representation, with the manufacturer paying all court costs and legal fees if the consumer prevails.
Automobile Consumer Advocate Craig Thor Kimmel, a legal consultant to the House Consumer Affairs Committee, has been working with the Committee on this Bill for more than four years and calls this expansion "a major victory for Pennsylvania Consumers." Kimmel continued, "While Federal Statutes provide some protection for lessees, the revised Pennsylvania Lemon Law clearly defines the responsibility manufacturers have when it comes to Pennsylvania consumers who decide to lease." Since 1990, Mr. Kimmel and his Ambler-based consumer advocacy firm, Kimmel and Silverman, have provided cost-free legal representation to more than 17,500 consumers under State and Federal statutes.
The Prime Sponsor of SB286 is Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-District 12, Montgomery County). "After many years of introducing this bill, I am gratified that legislature has recognized the importance of placing leased vehicles under the lemon law's protections. Those who have the misfortune of leasing a new automobile that turns out to be a lemon will soon have recourse under State law," says Greenleaf.
SB 286 was moved at the same time as HB 767. The Prime Sponsor of HB 767 is Representative John R. Evans (R-District 5, Erie and Crawford Counties). "We have heard the horror stories about the car that never really worked right from day one, and no one can figure out why," says Evans. "Since 1984, Pennsylvanians who buy their new cars have enjoyed a level of protection against the dreaded lemon, but for those consumers who chose to lease, this protection never existed. That will now change."
For more information on consumers' rights under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law and to view the Bills that expand the statute, consumers can visit www.lemonlaw.com or call 1-800-LEMON-LAW (1-800-536-6652).