State senators urge Gov. Wolf to designate dealerships as life-sustaining businesses

State Sens. Ryan Aument (R- Lancaster County) and Scott Martin (R-Lancaster County) are urging Gov. Tom Wolf to include automotive sales to the state’s list of life-sustaining businesses.

Businesses on the list are permitted to operate during the coronavirus pandemic because they provide essential services.

Delaware, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia are permitting auto dealerships to remain open so long as they abide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for social distancing and limit human contact as much as possible. The senators are urging Pennsylvania to do the same.

In the auto industry, vehicle return and delivery are conducted by appointment only while other services can be conducted remotely or electronically.

“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.”