State Labor Commissioner Sues Carwashes

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California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet on Tuesday filed lawsuits to shut down nine carwashes ?six of them in Los Angeles ?for failing to register with the state.

The businesses are considered to be in violation of AB 1688, the Carwash Worker Law, which the California legislature approved in 2003 to better regulate carwash and polishing businesses.

Lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, against the following local businesses: Jose Orlando Benitez, dba Galaxy Detailing Hand Car Wash; Francisco Ramirez, dba Javi? Car Wash; Trimax Melrose Inc. dba Melrose Car Wash; Auto Spa Express Inc. dba Sunset Car Wash; Sahara Car Wash; and Neo Brothers Inc. dba Lynwood Car Wash.

?hese lawsuits have been filed against carwashes that continue to illegally operate without a registration, despite citations issued against them for multiple violations,?Bradstreet said in a statement. ?his action is intended to send a clear and strong message to the carwash industry that we will not tolerate this illegal activity.?

Last year the Labor Commissioner? Office issued 863 registrations, a 34 percent increase.

Holly Macriss, executive director of the Western Carwash Association, said none of the named businesses were members of the Folsom-based association, which she said does extensive outreach about the need to register and renew annually, a process that costs $250.

?nfortunately we don? know whether these businesses get the word when they get a local business license that they also need to register with the state,?Macriss said.

The state carwash law is scheduled to expire on Jan. 1, but legislators are taking steps to make the law permanent via Assembly Bill 236. The assembly? Committee on Appropriations voted 12-5 last week to move the bill to the full assembly for a vote.

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