Lemon law bill in the state legislature runs out of gas

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Legislation that would strengthen consumer protections for car and truck buyers died in a legislative conference committee.<br/><br/>The measure would've given consumers more

Thursday, May 19th 2005, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Legislation that would strengthen consumer protections for car and truck buyers died in a legislative conference committee.

The measure would've given consumers more options when negotiating with automakers over defective cars and trucks. But the bill by Republican Representative Rex Duncan of Sand Springs only got support from two of five senators assigned to the joint conference committee.

Duncan said Wednesday that lobbyists for General Motors -- which operates an assembly plant in Oklahoma City -- and other automakers worked to kill the bill but never suggested amendments to improve it.

Broken Arrow resident Angie Gallant fought for the consumer protection statute after her new Chevrolet Malibu started having problems just three weeks after she bought it last year.

The company eventually agreed to buy the car back but charged her a $1,530 user fee for the miles she had put on it.