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California lowering the BAR on National Consumer Protection Week CARII President Bruce Hotchkiss opines that the state is creating a nice climate for auto repair fraud From my front-row seat, it looks like consumer protection is dead in California, at least at some of the Department of Consumer Affairs' (DCA) boards and bureaus. DCA's new Director, Brian Stiger, unveiled the Consumer Protection Enforcement Initiative, "A Systemic Solution to a Systemic Problem" to deal with a massive backlog of complaints, inquiries and investigations in the 19 healing arts boards. More...       Clean-piping scams at seven smog-check shops lead to 12 convictions -- Undercover work by CARII-member Bureau of Automotive Repair inspectors nails fraudulent technicians Say you have a 1990 Ford that needs to pass a smog test. Done honestly, the vehicle might cost a pretty penny to bring into compliance. But what if you could find a friendly technician who could run a 2000 Honda through the test and hand you a clean bill of health for a much cheaper price? More...           CARII-member Contractors State License Board investigators grab more than 100 in annual California Blitz Fall sting operation sends two to jail. Furlough Fridays? As they do every year in the spring and fall, SWIFT investigators with the Contractors State License Board conduct sting operations in search of unlicensed contractors. On Sept. 15 and 16, these California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and California Association of Regulatory Investigators and Inspectors members bagged 103 people throughout the state, serving each with notices to appear in court and arresting two on outstanding traffic warrants. More...       CARII member putting Bureau of Automotive Repair in good light -- Work of Frank Gutierrez draws praise "I generally do not like government, but the Bureau of Automotive Repair and Mr. Frank Gutierrez are on the side of the consumer. I thank him and the department for two great jobs." So wrote Los Angeles County resident Henry Miller in a letter to the editor to the Santa Clarita Valley signal. More...           Penny Wise or Pound Foolish? -- President's message At the behest of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and in order to reduce their fleet size, some departments will spend and pollute more.  After hearing reports of state employees using state vehicles to commute in, the governor ordered all agencies to review their vehicle fleet usage, which on the surface, seems a sensible approach. More...