MERA Wins New Mexico Legal Battle

By Amy Gilroy On Nov 10 2003 - 8:00am

MERA, the Mobile Enhancement Retailers Association, said it successfully defeated legislation here, which would have banned the sale and use of aftermarket car audio products in this city. (See TWICE, Sept. 15, p. 27.)

MERA said it mobilized local dealers, including Audio Express, Baillios, Drivers Den, Hudson's, Mesa Radio and Paradise Village, to work together against the proposed ban. Audio Express then hired an attorney, Jeff Albright to represent the group.

On Oct. 20 the Albuquerque City Council voted 8-to-1 against the ban which would have made it illegal to "to install, possess or play a car audio system other than a factory system," said MERA executive director Rick Mathies.

In addition, the bill stipulated that factory systems could have no more than four speakers, and be no larger than 6.5 inches in diameter, he said.

The bill was proposed by City Council VP Greg Payne because of the city's failure to enforce local noise ordinances, Mathies said.

MERA said it wished to thank Ed Santacruz, president of Audio Express, for his readiness to hire an attorney to represent the local retailers.