A Look At Texas Lemon LawIt seems that some states have to undergo more difficulties and challenges in order to get lemon law legislation passed than others did. The establishment of Texas lemon law is a case in point, but despite early trials, the advocates of lemon law won out and established a uniquely flavored lemon law based upon individual state proposals combined with the backbone of Federal lemon law. On this foundation, Texas' lemon law flourished. This article seeks to share something of what makes up the lemon law for the Lone Star State. Texas lemon law was first enacted by the Texas Legislature in 1983. Soon, the validity of the laws was brought into question by various parties; this hindered the enforcement of the legislation for two years. The law was upheld by the Court of Appeals in 1985 and Texas lemon law was finally established. After six years of operation, the law was amended and the provisions expanded to include more consumer protection than was previously outlined. Specific points addressed by reformed included a redefinition of what was considered a "lemon," the expansion of timeframe in which a complaint can be made, and consumers could look forward to reimbursement for what were termed "incidental expenses." This period of reform also introduced a required disclosure notice that dealerships had to include with vehicles that were repurchased or replaced in lemon law cases. Under the Texas lemon law, all of the standard vehicle types, including new and used, leased, trucks, and motorcycles receive the full extent of lemon law coverage afforded in other states. Beyond this general category, there was secondary group of vehicles including RVs and motor homes, and particular towable recreational vehicles (TRVs) that were given lemon law protection. This set Texas apart from some states that have no such laws governing TRVs. The same is also true of ATVs. An outline of used vehicle lemon law policy will highlight some of the distinct features of Texas lemon law and its parameters for protection for such vehicles. Naturally, as in other states that support used car lemon law, the particular car must be under warranty. In Texas, another element is added. The warranty must be the original one assigned to the car when it was new; no later extensions to the warranty will be honored under lemon law. Another feature of used car policy in Texas states that if a problem or defect began while the vehicle was still under warranty (and can be documented as such) and then that warranty lapsed while the problem persisted, the possibility for coverage and repairs may be considered. Texas lemon law is just another example of the diversity you are bound to discover when looking at the various state lemon laws across the country. Through there are plenty of common points that connect lemon law nationally, there are still many aspects that are uniquely the property of the individual state. |