California offers numerous programs to help the public comply with the State’s environmental standards. Whether it’s improving energy efficiency or reducing air pollution, the State seeks to help people reduce their environmental and energy footprint. Many of these programs offer customers rebates and subsidies, along with a list of star-certified businesses. Star-certified companies are the highest level of regulatory approval. Many sell energy-efficient products, such as washing machines and refrigerators. You might even have an ‘energy star’ appliance in your own home. These products meet the standards, but the warranty isn’t any different from that of a “normal” product.
For service professionals, however, the State regulatory system works differently. For busineses, many of the regulations are “hands on.” This means extensive training and testing. For example, a STAR-certified construction business must build energy-efficient homes that meets very high standards. In addition, the regulations are not just “once and done.” They have yearly requirements for compliance.
Like other highly trained STAR-certified professionals, smog technicians undergo rigorous training, testing, and education. And if you are a STAR-certified shop, you know it’s complicated for you as a business plus for your technicians. Every two years, a technician must complete the required training hours and submit a renewal notice for their STAR certification and license.
Partnering with a State Agency on Environmental Practices Can Be a Blessing and a Curse
The Bureau of Automotive Repair is charged with reducing air pollution by ensuring that every car meets emissions testing standards. Car-owning Californians are required to ensure their vehicles meet high standards through smog checks. Every Californian knows this. From a business perspective, the payoff of a STAR certification and license is that you essentially have “guaranteed customers.” They have to get their car smogged, and they don’t have many choices.
And when stations participate in the Customer Assistance Program, the Bureau of Automotive Repair will subsidize customers’ emissions-related repairs. This is another benefit for STAR stations. There are still drawbacks to participation in the program. The BAR constantly checks up on even well-run STAR smog shops on compliance issues. The agency conducts regular inspections at stations to ensure they follow the STAR standards. Surveillance can also come in the form of an undercover car or a customer complaint. Even minor allegations can lead to time-consuming hassles that may result in the revocation of one’s license.
If a smog shop faces the possible suspension of its STAR certification and license, the owner should not take it lightly. The BAR may be a state agency with detailed regulatory power, but it often gets things wrong. The devil is in the details, as they say. And the only real support a STAR-certified station is going to get is a defense attorney. Our teach is here to support and fight to keep your STAR status functional.