BOWIE, Md.—The Massachusetts and Maryland legislatures have scheduled hearings on bills that would establish laws in their states allowing for the removal of tires from service because of age.
A Massachusetts joint committee will hold a hearing on House Bill No. 3016 Feb. 5, after canceling an earlier hearing Jan. 22 because of inclement weather.
House Bill No. 3016 would reinstate periodic vehicle safety inspections in Massachusetts. One of its provisions would require vehicle inspectors to automatically fail any car or light truck that had one or more tires more than six years of age according to tire identification numbers.
A committee of the Maryland legislature will hold a hearing Feb. 12 on a tire aging bill sponsored by Rep. Benjamin F. Kramer, D-19th District. The bill is identical to one Rep. Kramer sponsored last year that would require Maryland tire merchants to give consumers printed statements on the dangers of tire aging whenever they sell tires that are used, recycled, retreaded or more than three years past their manufacture date.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association, the Tire Industry Association, the New England Tire & Service Association and the Chesapeake Automotive Business Association oppose the bills.