Many young men and women in California, from Los Angeles to Sacramento, Redding to Riverside, are looking for other options to a traditional college path. They want to avoid being stuck with a degree resulting in heavy debt and no well-paying job. 
Instead of working at a coffee shop with a Master’s degree, students would rather finish school with an actual marketable skill. This is why the trades are a desirable alternative. For instance, many choose the path of auto repair mechanic and SMOG Technician. Anyone considering this line of work needs to be ready for the challenges. The result is dirty, and it can take hours to problem-solve a car issue. The pressure to complete SMOG testing and get cars passed quickly is stressful. Also, customers aren’t very knowledgeable as to how deep your expertise is.
Vocational training might take less than four years to complete (in some cases), but it is like attending college. It requires studying, discipline, and practice. There is rigorous testing to pass and hours of training. And yes, it can be costly too. The wider population sometimes needs help understanding this. From time to time, expert tradespeople deal with rude, arrogant customers. A customer may mistake a little grit under your fingernails at the end of the day for “unschooled and unskilled labor.” Anyone who manages customer service understands rude customers are part of the job. And really, who cares as long as you’re paid decently and enjoying life?
Want to Own your own SMOG and Auto Repair Shop?
Some smog techs might be ready to step up and run their show. Start their own auto repair and smog testing shop where the risk and rewards also increase. Independent auto repair shops in California have plenty of challenges. The IMR Automotive Research website (https://www.automotiveresearch.com/insights/independent-auto-repair-shop-challenges-2022) notes several demanding issues shop owners face, such as:
Supply chain disruptions.
Customer retention.
Finding affordable parts on time.
Hiring other qualified and responsible Smog testing and repair technicians.
The upside to all this is that if you have a passion for fixing cars and are ready to work, the rewards could be substantial.
Whether one becomes a SMOG technician or an independent auto repair shop owner, one thing is sure; they will deal with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. And there may be a time when they need a defense lawyer for a smog shop technician.
The Bureau of Automotive Repair can be a Challenging Partner
The job of the California Bureau of Auto Repair is to ensure SMOG emissions standards are strictly adhered to. They also provide classes such as diagnostic repair and emissions training: https://www.bar.ca.gov/training. SMOG testing shops are partners in the goal for cleaner air in California. Unfortunately, it’s challenging to work with the Bureau of Auto Repair. In their zeal, the BAR has accused SMOG technicians of STAR violations without clear evidence. And like some customers, BAR attorneys may think they know more than they do about an individual case. That’s where we come in.
Several of our Auto Defense Attorneys started as SMOG technicians. Then we decided to step up and serve our SMOG community as defense attorneys (https://automotivedefense.com/about/services/). The combination helps technicians who get in a bind with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Not only does our legal team understand how to manage a court case, we respect the job smog testing and auto repair shops do. That hybrid knowledge is a benefit to our clients.
If you need a defense lawyer for a smog shop technician, call us, and we’ll get you the respect you deserve in court!