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LA-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Luxury Cars from Victims Who Wanted Out of Leases
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CAWA 2022 Scholarship Application Now Open
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CAA Provides Update on Bills to Watch During 2022 CA Legislative Session
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Tesla Worker Collapses and Dies at Fremont Factory on Powertrain Line
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Tesla Driver Charged with Felony After Deadly Crash Killing 2
Western News
Local news stories affecting the auto body industry in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska and Wyoming
Top 5 KCRA Channel 3 2012 A-List Sacramento Area Body Shops
In Sacramento, CA, KCRA Channel 3 viewers recently voted for their top five auto body shops for the 2012 A-List. More than 273,000 votes were collectd to determine the winners. Coming in first was Bertolucci's Body Shop. Bertolucci's Body and Fender Shop, located at 1717 Stockton Blvd., first opened its doors for business in 1948. Sixty years later, they are Sacramento's premier collision repair facility and one of the largest in the area, with a capacity to repair over 100 vehicles concurrently.
Runner-up is Kniesel's Collision Centers, a family-owned auto body business with three locations in the greater Sacramento area. Since 1968, the Kniesel family has been committed to quality repairs and great customer service.
CDI Conducts Illegal Contractor Crackdown
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced that a statewide joint task force in the fight against California's underground economy has netted contractors allegedly operating illegally, resulting in 104 enforcement actions.
"Operation Underground took aim at the "off the books" activity of unscrupulous contractors allegedly operating illegally or without proper coverage for their workers," said Commissioner Jones. "In doing so, they not only failed to protect their employees, but they create unfair competition in California."
Watsonville Shop Owner Due Back in Court
The Santa Cruz Sentinel has reported that the owner of an auto body shop who prosecutors say bilked clients is due back in court on July 31 to set a preliminary hearing date.
Martin Calvario Moya, 48, was charged last month with several charges including forging documents, making false insurance claims and failure to have required workers' compensation insurance coverage for his employees.
Moya is the owner of Moya Auto Body Shop in Watsonville. The District Attorney's Office filed the charges after an undercover investigation that began earlier this year, conducted by representatives from the California Bureau of Auto Repair, the Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Unit and the DA's Investigations Bureau. The investigation was prompted by complaints from customers.
Moya is also charged with violating the terms of his probation. In April, he pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of check forgery and was placed on three years of probation. He was also ordered to serve 90 days in County Jail. That charge stemmed from a case involving his wife, Elena Moya, who pleaded no contest to felony grand theft by embezzlement. Prosecutors said that while working at the nonprofit organization Community Bridges, she embezzled thousands of dollars by taking checks from the organization and either cashing them herself or giving the checks to others to cash, including her husband.
Moya has pleaded not guilty to the current charges and is being represented by Salinas-based defense attorney Brian Worthington. He's currently being held in County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Haddick's Auto Body & Towing Hosts 2nd Annual Charity Hot Rod & Car Show
Haddick's Auto Body & Towing, in conjunction with the cities of Industry and La Puente, will hold its 2nd Annual Charity Hot Rod & Car Show at its primary facility on Saturday, July 14.
Sponsored by local businesses and larger corporations, the family-friendly event will feature food, games and a live band. Proceeds go to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Industry Station's Youth Activities League (YAL) program that supports and helps at-risk youth in the area with free after-school sports and activities. Last year's event raised $12,500 for YAL.
New California Law Protects Car Buyers from "Junk Cars"
Car buyers in California will get increased protection under a new law that took effect on July 1.
Most bills passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor take effect on Jan. 1 each year. But all or part of about two-dozen other laws are taking effect at midyear.
The state is enacting a first-in-the-nation law to protect those shopping for used cars.
California, Arizona Among Top 5 States with Highest Mechanical Costs
California, Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Arizona have the highest average mechanical repair costs, a recent study by CarMD.com found. These states are also home to half the nation's top driving destinations.
The study by the Irvine company found that Wyoming, Utah, California, Montana and Arizona, which are home to popular attractions including half the nation's national parks, have the highest costs for mechanical repair.
More...
CAWA Says it was Instrumental in Stopping California Bill Aimed at Restricting Access to Certain Aftermarket Parts
The California Automotive Wholesalers Association released the following press release on June 28 from Sacramento, CA:
Today is a victory for consumers and the automotive aftermarket alike as a bill aimed at attempting to lock out the industry from important information relative to key information for replacement in certain automobiles has been defeated. Failing to pass the Assembly Floor today by a vote of 29 to 25, with 41 votes needed to pass, SB 750 which is sponsored by BMW, sought to exempt automakers from providing electronic key code information to locksmiths, requiring motorists to contact the automaker to get a replacement key for their vehicle.
California DOI Proposes Amendments to Standards for Repair and Use of Aftermarket Parts Regulation
The Automotive Service Association issued the following news release:
The California Department of Insurance (DOI) has published proposed amendments to its Standards for Repair and Use of Aftermarket Parts Regulation.
The proposed amendments include the following additional text:
Tucson Auto Repair Sponsors Food, Clothes Drive
A food and clothing drive by a Tucson auto body company is set to end June 29. Caliber Collision also is matching $1 for every item donated. Non-perishable food and clothing is being accepted at all of the firm’s four Tucson-area locations.
The drive, coordinated with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is similar to drives at most of the company’s 107 auto body repair centers in Arizona, Nevada, California, and Texas.
Suggested donations include non-perishable food in cans or plastic bottles, clothing and other necessities. No donation can be in glass, open containers, homemade or expired.
Caliber locations accepting donations are located at: 721 E. 12th St., 635 E. Vuelta Caminata Del Rio in Oro Valley, 2050 W. Price St. and 8120 E. Research Center.
CAA San Diego Gets a Robert Rick Refresher Course
An auto body shop is like a day care center. People want their children well taken care of, and they want their cars well taken care of.
To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.
Getting back to the basics was the focus of the San Diego Chapter of the California Autobody Association meeting on May 22 at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse Restaurant on Harbor Island in San Diego.
Presenter Robert Rick, VP of Sales and Consulting Services for Gates Business Solutions in Wisconsin and DuPont Performance Coatings Executive Facilitator for DPS Educational Series, addressed approximately 50 attendees with the topic, “How to Improve Some of Your Best Business Practices.”
“Think of a customer’s car as their baby,” Rick said. “Their cars are important to them and their second most expensive purchase.” He likens auto body shops to day care centers because “our cars are loved ones too.”