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Groups Rally to Reform Regulations That Could Cost Californians Billions

25 April 2000

ADVISORY/Consumer Groups, Car Owners, Small Business Owners Rally to Reform Unfair Regulations That Could Cost Californians Billions

    --

    Demonstrators to Present Legislators with Petitions with 75,000
    Signatures in Support of SB 1146, the Consumer Choice in
    Car Care Bill to End the On-Board Diagnostics "Lock-Out"

WHAT:   Members of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety;
        Consumer Federation of California; and other consumer interest
        groups, along with car owners, auto mechanics, repair shop
        owners and others, will rally on the steps of the State
        Capitol building to urge legislative support of SB 1146
        (Burton, D-San Francisco), the Consumer Choice in Car Care
        bill.

        Participants are concerned about current regulations that
        could cost jobs and saddle Californians with $17 billion in
        higher car care costs if they are not reformed.

WHO:    Senate President Pro Tem John Burton
        Rosemary Shahan, president, Consumers for Auto Reliability
          & Safety (CARS)
        Michael B. Morris, chairman, California Automotive Task Force
        Robert Jauregui, auto parts store employee 
        Veta Benze, retired senior citizen concerned about the issue

    GREAT VISUALS will dramatize the need for reform legislation,
        including...

        --  A late model car "in chains" on the steps of the Capitol;
        --  A mountain of petitions signed by Californians in support
            of SB 1146;
        --  A chanting, sign-waving crowd of more than 150 consumer
            advocates, car owners, and workers whose livelihoods are
            at risk.

WHEN:   Wednesday, April 26 at 1:45 p.m.

WHERE:  North Steps, State Capitol Building
        (L Street Side)
        Sacramento, California