Lancaster Senators Call on Governor Wolf to Amend List of Life-Sustaining Businesses to Include Online Automotive Sales

HARRISBURG – Senators Scott Martin (R-13) and Ryan Aument (R-36) are calling on Governor Wolf to add automotive sales –provided they are conducted remotely or electronically, with vehicle return and delivery in-person by appointment only – to the list of life-sustaining businesses permitted to operate during the coronavirus pandemic due to the essential nature of their services. As with any other business on the list, the automotive sales industry would abide by CDC guidelines for social distancing and limiting human contact as much as possible while conducting their critical work.

“Make no mistake, we are in the midst of a very serious public health crisis,” said Aument. “Government officials must work together in a bipartisan and collaborative fashion to prevent further spread of the virus through social distancing measures while ensuring that the appropriate businesses are able to continue providing essential goods and services to Pennsylvania residents. To that end, reliable transportation is necessary, especially for essential workers like those in the healthcare industry who need to get back and forth to work every day.”

“Pennsylvania’s automotive dealers need to be allowed to provide vehicles to the community during this difficult, unprecedented time,” said Martin. “Similar to providing repair services to customers, at any given time, a person may need to purchase a replacement vehicle out of necessity. By conducting automotive sales transactions remotely or electronically, with vehicle return and delivery in-person by appointment only, the industry can continue to provide these critical services while simultaneously adhering to CDC guidelines.”

Many of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states – New York, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, and Delaware – have all provided similar direction to their motor vehicle dealers. The Senators say that Pennsylvanians in urgent need of a vehicle are traveling out of state to procure reliable transportation, hurting Pennsylvania’s economy and risking further community spread.

“Most critically, our essential workers must have access to purchasing vehicles, conveniently and locally, especially during this health crisis,” the Senators said. “We understand that opening sales venues to the public is currently a public health risk, and as such, we simply ask the Governor to allow vehicles to be sold to those in need over the internet or telephone with vehicle return and delivery by appointment arrangement at the dealership so that the industry can continue to satisfy the transportation needs of Pennsylvanians during this difficult time.”

 

CONTACT: Ryan Boop (717) 787-4420 (Senator Aument)
Terry Trego (717) 787-6535 (Senator Martin)

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