Requires that all new motor vehicles sold at motor vehicle dealerships contain a space saver tire unless certain exceptions apply.
Summary
This bill amends the General Business Law to require that all new motor vehicles sold at motor vehicle dealerships include a compatible space saver tire, commonly known as a temporary spare tire. The tire must be properly secured to the vehicle in a way that avoids damage. The bill defines a space saver tire and a run-flat tire, and it clarifies that a run-flat tire may satisfy the requirement only in the limited circumstances set out in the bill.
The requirement does not apply to new vehicles sold with run-flat tires or to vehicles that do not have a space to secure a space saver tire. The bill would take effect 90 days after becoming law and would create a new consumer-protection rule governing dealership sales practices for new vehicles in New York.
Impact
The bill would add a new section 396-pp to the General Business Law, creating a statewide sales requirement for motor vehicle dealerships. It would impose civil penalties of up to $250 for a first violation and up to $500 for subsequent violations, and enforcement would be handled by municipal consumer affairs offices, town attorneys, city corporation counsel, or other local designees. The bill would affect dealerships selling new vehicles, manufacturers and dealers that configure vehicle equipment, and local governments responsible for enforcement and retaining collected penalties.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill: the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee voted 15-0 to favorably refer it to the Committee on Codes. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous committee vote indicates little visible opposition at that stage. Overall, the bill appears to have been received as a consumer-oriented measure aimed at ensuring drivers have a temporary spare available when purchasing a new vehicle.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether a universal spare-tire requirement is appropriate for all new vehicles, given that some vehicles are designed without a dedicated space for a spare and some are equipped with run-flat tires. The bill addresses those concerns by creating exceptions, but those exceptions may still be a point of discussion for dealers, manufacturers, and consumer advocates. Another possible point of contention is enforcement, since the bill places responsibility on local consumer-affairs and municipal legal offices rather than a single state agency.