Car Rental Recalls
Legislators in California will be voting on a bill that would ban car rental companies in the state from renting out vehicles that have been recalled. The bill would require that safety defects be repaired before cars could be rented out, holding rental car companies more accountable and ensuring customer safety. The measure was prompted by the 2005 deaths of Rachel and Jacqueline Houck.
The sisters died in a rented PT Cruiser that was the subject of a steering wheel recall. Their mother said that the legislation is crucial to prevent future incidents. Carol Houck received a multimillion-dollar judgment in a suit against Enterprise, but that company and the rental car industry in the state are expected to oppose the measure, claiming that they already have safety guidelines in place.