Whereas, the used car information laws have in the past required dealers to disclose to consumers if a used car had suffered substantial collision damage costing more than $1,500 to repair; and

Whereas, a law enacted this past legislative session indirectly increased the used car information laws disclosure limit to $3,000; and

Whereas, consumers could be significantly injured if they agree to purchase a used car without being told that it had suffered collision damage of up to $3,000; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §1475, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 625, Pt. A, §16, is amended to read:

3. Written statement. A dealer shall obtain from the seller of a used motor vehicle a written statement containing the following information:

A. The make, model, model year and any identification or serial numbers of the motor vehicle;

B. The name and address of the seller, the principal use to which the motor vehicle was put by the seller, such as personal transportation, police car, daily rental car, taxi or other descriptive term;

C. A statement identifying any and all mechanical defects known to the seller at the time of sale; and

D. A statement identifying the type of damage, if any, that the vehicle has sustained, such as fire, water or substantial collision damage, if such information is known to the seller.

Any dealer who offers for sale to consumers a repossessed vehicle that has been obtained by the dealer through any transaction