Lemon Law extended to emergency vehicles

Trenton — Legislation sponsored by Senator Steve Oroho, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Assemblyman Gary Chiusano, ( R-Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon), which would extend Lemon Law protections to emergency vehicles, was signed into law. The law will correct an issue which the Flanders Fire Department and Rescue Squad in Mount Olive Township, Morris County experienced. The first aid squad purchased an ambulance that encountered significant problems with its drive train that needed constant repair. “It is imperative that towns have reliable transportation in responding to emergency situations,” said Chiusano. “It is unfortunate that the Lemon Law is needed at all. This law will make sure that public entities are also protected from companies who don’t believe that customer satisfaction is their number one priority.” Under the state’s Lemon Law, manufacturers of new motor vehicles are required to correct defects that are originally covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. It applies to new vehicles that develop repeated defects or lengthy unusable periods during the first two years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. A new motor vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if it has one or more defects that continue to exist after three attempts at repairs or after the vehicle has been out of service for a total of 20 cumulative calendar days. This law will ensure that emergency vehicles are covered under New Jersey’s Lemon Law. “All reputable manufacturers must stand by their products and ensure the purchaser is completely satisfied. This action will now include the taxpayer as well,” said McHose. “This is quite simply a public safety issue,” Oroho said. “The taxpayers paid good money for a new ambulance. If it’s in the shop on a continuous basis then it can’t do its job and the manufacturer should accept responsibility for an inferior product. This law will force them to do just that.”