San Diego, California – February 27, 2023. Automotive Defense Specialists, a team of attorneys representing SMOG shops and auto repair technicians and owners against California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair at https://automotivedefense.com/, is proud to announce a new informational post focused on so-called “STAR suspensions.”
New terminology by the state regulatory agency has sowed confusion among the community. Defining the meaning of a STAR suspension (formerly called a STAR invalidation) with an attorney may help SMOG and auto repair technicians and owners better understand the issues. Interested users can find the referenced change on the official notification at https://www.bar.ca.gov/star/updates.
“The language used by the Bureau of Automotive Repair can seem confusing to a SMOG technician or auto repair shop owner. The word ‘invalidation’ has been rebranded as ‘suspension,’ for example,” explained attorney William Ferreira of Automotive Defense Specialists. “Technicians have other things to focus on other than deciphering changing bureaucratic nomenclature. Our job as defense attorneys is to represent their interests based on the facts and the law, regardless of name changes.”
California’s SMOG testing and repair community can review the new blog post. The post helps explain the difference and the steps to appealing a STAR suspension order. The SMOG community ready to speak to a STAR suspension/invalidation attorney can contact the firm via the attorney page. Automotive Defense Attorneys have offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
BACKGROUND ON CHANGING NOMENCLATURE
Here is the background on this release. The change in nomenclature from “STAR invalidation” to “STAR suspension” at the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) in California reflects a shift in the terminology used to describe the status of a licensed Smog Check station or technician.
Previously, the BAR used the term “STAR invalidation” to refer to the process of revoking a station or technician’s STAR Program certification. However, the BAR recently changed its terminology to “STAR suspension” to better reflect the fact that this action is intended to be temporary and does not necessarily indicate a permanent loss of certification. Under the new system, a STAR suspension can be lifted if the station or technician takes corrective action to address the underlying issue and meets all BAR requirements. This shift in terminology is intended to be more transparent and to make it clear that suspension is not the same as revocation, and that there is a path to regaining certification. Reaching out for legal defense may help to expedite such an outcome.
ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS
Automotive Defense Specialists (https://automotivedefense.com/) is a top law firm representing auto repair facilities, SMOG check stations, and technicians in every facet of their legal needs, including the Bureau of Automotive Repair letters, citations, suspensions, and invalidations. The legal team can help auto shops respond to a Bureau of Auto Repair defense letter. The company offers phone consultations to auto shops, mechanics, technicians, and others facing disciplinary actions from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.
Tel. (415) 392-2886