NWRA Issues Warning to AGRR Shops

[Delta Kits]

From http://www.glassbytes.com/newsNWRA20050309.htm

NWRA Issues Warning to AGRR Shops

Following up on the discussion at the meeting last Friday of the Connecticut Automotive Glass Work and Flat Glass Work Board concerning referrals to unlicensed shops in the state (see glassBYTEs March 4), the National Windshield Repair Association has issued a warning to auto glass repair and/or replacement (AGRR) shops.

Here is the text of the NWRA statement:

CONNECTICUT REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT SHOPS BEWARE!

If you are doing windshield repair or replacement in the state of Connecticut and do not have a license to do so, you are doing it illegally.

As of January of 2005, you must have a license, and if you do a repair or replacement and don't have a license, you can be fined. The shop owner can be fined $1000 for having an unlicensed person working for him and the unlicensed person that did the work can be fined $1000. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. The Department of Consumer Protection is going to start spot checking shops, so beware and make sure that you and your workers are licensed!

Issued by NWRA March 9, 2005

[a1repair]

Wow, that's a bit drastic, but hopefully will help "separate the wheat from the chaff"!

[Nomad]

I believe we have the right to free trade as human beings. There is no such thing as a permit (license) to exercise a right. This is a restraint of free trade and a case of prior restraint. The people that are violating the law in this case are the state lawmakers who are themselves ignorant of the Constitution. In their case ignorance of the constitution, the bill of rights and the Declaration of Independence statement that our rights are inalienable is no excuse. Where are the people that have taken the oath to support and defend the Constitution and all it stands for now. Isn't the oath to defend it against all enemies, forign AND domestic?

[gold star wsr]

so, nomad, would you advocate practicing medicine or law without a license? while wsr isnt nearly as serious a business as either of those professions, the fact remains that requiring some sort of certification will, in the long run, protect the end user... the consumer... from the fly-by-nights who are poorly trained (or not at all) and untimately degrade the industry as a whole.

[a1repair]

so, nomad, would you advocate practicing medicine or law without a license? while wsr isnt nearly as serious a business as either of those professions, the fact remains that requiring some sort of certification will, in the long run, protect the end user... the consumer... from the fly-by-nights who are poorly trained (or not at all) and untimately degrade the industry as a whole.

Greetings! gold star wsr,

The points you make are strong, valid, and right on the money! (IMO)There are so many repair/replacement hackers out there that it's "scary". Unquestionably, they aid in giving the WSR business a bad name. Some on this board have even said that people in their area think WSR is a scam! It's unfortunate to sometimes be lumped together with such bad masses.

Licensing would, as I quoted before, "separate the wheat form the chaff", and certainly help cut down , (not stop) on those who are considered "unscrupulous" as many here, on this forum have made reference to.

If one who's doing repair/replacement knows what they are doing, licensing a person(s) in what they are good at should be no big deal. Just like getting a drivers license, a bit nervous @ first while taking the test, but then how good one feels when he/she passes the test.

[mafsu]

I'd suggest those who are unfamiliar take a look back at the lisensing requirements Connecticut has in place, those it intended to put in place, and those certain windshield shop owners attempted to have put in place. Most notably of which no repairs in the driver's side sweep of the windshield.

[mafsu]

The other nutty criteria was an apprenticeship for two years under a licensed wsr tech to become a journeyman and go out and work for yourself.

As frustrated as you guys may be with poor techs in your area, do not support licensing. If you do it will be a classic case of biting off your nose to spite your face.

[Bois]

...an apprenticeship for two years... become a journeyman...

What next - unionization?

[Delta Kits]

If one who's doing repair/replacement knows what they are doing, licensing a person(s) in what they are good at should be no big deal. Just like getting a drivers license, a bit nervous @ first while taking the test, but then how good one feels when he/she passes the test.

If that was all it is, I think more people would support it. The problem is, how many of you have been an apprentice under a licensed tech for two years? Not many I would imagine. Also, as members here can attest to, it's not needed in windshield repair. I'm sure Grace does great repairs, and certainly didn't need to find someone to work for for two years to get good.

So, again, as Mafsu said, be careful what you support. A requirement for training & passing a test makes some sense. Not doing any in the wiper sweep, and only being able to go out on your own after two years of working for someone? Doesn't make sense.

My personal opinion

[paintlessplus]

Bravo Mafsu - Heres some food for thought to those who may be on the fence on this issue.

Why do you think that the state of Connecticut has aggressively required licensing for WSR ?

Do you feel that the elected goverment officials truely share our concerns over wanting to see professional repairs and the removal of hacks from this trade ?

Do you think that WSR scams have become so wide spread in the state of Connecticut that the unsuspecting public needs to be protected ?

How do you suppose these goverment bureaucrats were alerted to such an important consumer protection issue as regulation of WSR and replacement ?

Do you think that MAYBE, they were lobbied by special interests groups ?

Do you think that MAYBE, these same bureaucrats accept campaign money and other favors from these same groups via their political action committies ?

Who benefits from the non refundable licensing fees that the state of Connecticut collects along with your notorized application..... is it the poor consumer or the state licensing bureau ?

Who do you think will get his application for licensing approved first... the big established glass shop monopoly or the little hard working independant ?



In closing I would like to add that after looking at the state of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection website, and downloading the application, I'm not sure that I could qualify to get a license. Oh, and by the way, there is ABSOLUTELY NO test for competentcy required...... Bob