For those of us who work in air-conditioned rooms during the hottest months in Los Angeles, we don’t know how lucky we are. And we can’t relate to the added demands of smog testing and auto repair technicians.
Sure, they may have garage fans, but you know when the heat rises on a SoCal afternoon, the fans feel more like a hair dryer. It’s air, like water is still water even when it’s warm. The point is, it’s physically uncomfortable. Smog techs must sweat it out and keep going while testing and repairing cars. The hottest months in Los Angeles are July, August, and September with inland areas easily rising above 90 degrees. In addition, these are also some of the busiest months for smog testing stations. Many vehicle owners have a vehicle registration renewal due around that time. That means not only are smog technicians busy, but there is a push to get their customers through quickly.
There is no doubt smog testing and auto repair is a dirty job. The professional requires a type of grit not everyone has. But if you are a smog testing professional, you also know how rewarding it is. And what a great long-term career it can be! And there is a rising need for new talent to join the automotive repair industry because plenty of technicians are currently aging out of the workforce.
This has been recognized as a problem, and there are efforts to recruit youth into smog technician careers, even offering scholarships. In fact, there is a Mike Rowe Work Ethics Certification for auto technicians. So, smog testing and auto repair is officially a valuable dirty job!
It’s why our legal team has a passion for fighting Bureau of Automotive Repair citations in Los Angeles. We believe good smog technicians deserve to be protected.
You put in the time to achieve your dirty job
A Bureau of Automotive Repair citation can be issued for many reasons. The risk to a smog tech career comes when the notice is ignored. That citation can threaten a smog technician’s license and reputation. It can also cause problems for the smog business. A STAR-certified smog expert may be well-versed in their career and still misunderstand the threats of a BAR accusation. They need a Los Angeles smog defense lawyer who has the type of grit needed to win in court. Even if the letter is a so-called ‘small’ smog citation, accepting the charge by paying a fine and moving on is a mark against a technician’s record. Several other notices become a more serious issue.
Speaking to an attorney who’s used to turning up the heat on BAR lawyers is how to address it. Expecting the Bureau of Automotive Repair to justify their accusations can either lessen or dismiss them completely. We’ve seen it ourselves.
Sure, our defense team may have it easier fighting for smog technicians in air-conditioned Los Angeles courtrooms, but make no mistake, the fight can get messy. And that’s fine with us, because we know Smog testing professionals are important jobs only those with real commitment can do!