Bills to Open Salvage Pools to Unlicensed Individuals Stopped in Alabama Legislature.

AADRA Instrumental in Halting Bills Attempting to Alter Alabama's Salvage Vehicle Purchase Provisions

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama Automotive Dismantlers and Recyclers Association (AADRA) claimed victory last week as bills to open auto salvage pools to unlicensed individuals were halted from hearings before the Alabama Legislature due to strong opposition from consumers and industry.

SB 193 by Senator Tom Butler (D-02), would have opened the availability of non-repairable, salvage titled vehicles to unlicensed individuals who may, illegally and without regard to the purchaser's safety or the environment, cosmetically rebuild these vehicles for profit - placing the people of Alabama at risk.

"We applaud the Alabama Legislature for recognizing that opening salvage pools to purchasers other than licensed recyclers significantly diminishes the overall health and safety of the general public and the environment as untrained, unregulated and unequipped workers attempt to handle, dismantle and dispose of environmentally-harmful, waste-stream products and hazardous materials," stated Chad Counselman, owner of Counselman Automotive Recycling in Mobile, and President of the AADRA. "While we achieved a major victory, our fight is not over. Industry and consumers must unite in our vigilance to keep these bills off the negotiating table as special interest groups may try to bring the bills up again for legislative hearings."

The automotive recycling industry - with $10 billion in sales annually - plays a necessary and crucial role in the efficient, ecological and environmentally responsible disposal of inoperable motor vehicles. Automotive recycling serves a vital role in preserving natural resources and reducing the demand for scarce landfill space, plays an important role in reducing air and water pollution and solid waste generation and serves as a valuable source for economical and often hard to find used motor vehicle replacement parts. Licensed and professional automotive recyclers must abide by stringent local and national environmental regulations dealing with waste generated by salvaged automobiles.

"Allowing unlicensed individuals to purchase salvage titled vehicles enables the criminally minded to purchase the paperwork necessary to support auto theft and fraud through VIN switching and cloning," stated James S. Spiller, Chairman of the North American Export Committee (NAEC). "This in turn, increases auto theft and fraud opportunities and places the public at risk."

The Legislature withdrew the bills due to strong and persistent opposition from the Alabama motoring public and licensed recyclers who know the dangers and risks posed by allowing unlicensed individuals to purchase salvage titled vehicles. Unfortunately the bill may be brought up again for consideration as Alabama only requires four hours notice to hold a hearing.

The Alabama Automotive Dismantlers and Recyclers Association is a chapter of the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) and is comprised of licensed Alabama corporations, firms and individuals whose primary business interests lie in the purchase, dismantling, rebuilding and storage of used or damaged automobiles and the sale of parts thereof at retail or wholesale.

For more information visit www.aadra.net or www.a-r-a.org.