California has a smog problem. This has been an issue since the 1970s, and California did a lot to protect its citizens from air pollutants. This wasn’t just “progressive”. 
It was good for the environment. As a result, they created the Bureau of Automotive Repair, which, on a “good day”, does a lot to enforce the regulations.
However, there is also a downside to the Bureau of Automotive Repair, and it is that – as with many government and state organizations – it has become over-bureaucratic. The basic idea of combating pollution is obviously to be admired, but the BAR has got to a point where most auto repair shop owners and technicians absolutely hate it.
Sure, there are some cowboy operators in the auto repair business in Los Angeles, San Diego, or even San Diego, and no doubt have been since the invention of the motor car. It is right that they should be closed down, if they operate in that sort of way. However, the Bureau of Automotive Repair has got to the stage where it seems to consider all people in the auto repair business to be fair targets, regardless of how well or otherwise they run their businesses.
What this means is that if you should happen to get on to its’ “wanted” list, they are going to come after you no matter what. Let’s face it: none of us is perfect, and we all make the odd mistake in our lives and in our businesses. But a genuine error is a genuine error – you didn’t set out to do it deliberately. Why would you? That would be asking for trouble.
Undercover Vehicles Put Out by the Bureau of Automotive Repair
And yet, the BAR goes to the extreme of sending out undercover vehicles with a minor fault that is difficult to spot for the sole purpose of trying to close you down! In what other business does something like that happen?
What this means for you in the auto repair business is that if you receive any sort of contact from the Bureau of Automotive Repair, you need to start running. And you need to keep running all the way to our offices at Automotive Defense Specialists. The very fact of our existence should tell you all you need to know about the BAR.
Our defense attorney William Ferreira spends all his working hours defending auto repair shop owners and technicians against the BAR. Fortunately, he is very good at it – partly because he is a trained auto technician himself, having worked in the industry for many years until he changed course to become a lawyer.
Don’t try to tackle the BAR on your own. That would be asking for trouble. Come and see Mr. Ferreira.