City Requires Mobile Detailers to Capture Run Off! - Page 3

Slickery · 04-09-09, 05:13

So it's ok for the general population to wash their car in their driveway, but mobile detailers are basically the only ones that cant. Sounds real good for brick and morter car washes where this would be a lot easier to enforce, hmm. Maybe the answer is a small matt that can be put under a panel at a time, and using something like ONR. If you use ONR you only need to capture a gallon or two. The gov't should encourage business, not make it prohibitively hard to do.

weekendwarrior · 04-09-09, 05:28

Yeah, often times, people obcessed with a cause, as well as our government officials, don't comprehend the theory of "cause and effect". What often sounds like a good idea is just taken and run with, without thoroughly analyzing EVERY area that will be effected by said cause.

I love when the government announces they are going to "save" money by cutting out the purchasing of some item (a military jet for instance), or some service. After the service gets cut out, they then discover thousands of people are suddenly unemployed because their livelihoods were tied to that item or service. So, now the government has to pay all of those thousands of people unemployment and other things, thereby negating a lot, if not all of the "savings".

The same can be said for a lot of these environmental causes. Most of the activists I talk to can't see the forest for the trees so to speak. After talking to most of them for just a few minutes, I find that I actually live a "greener" life than them, just by utilizing basic common sense and consideration for other people, and the environment (not being wasteful) I live in.

Oh well, I guess that's what's so great about this country (for now anyways) that we don't have to all agree on issues like this, and can debate freely...although a lot of these activists don't seem to agree with me on this point.

Slickery · 04-09-09, 05:33

If we didn't wash our cars, wouldn't the rain cause what ever is on the cars to end up on roads anyway? The answer is to find environmentally friendly products, as opposed to making ridiculous laws that are not easily enforceable and detrimental to business.

weekendwarrior · 04-09-09, 05:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickery

If we didn't wash our cars, wouldn't the rain cause what ever is on the cars to end up on roads anyway? The answer is to find environmentally friendly products, as opposed to making ridiculous laws that are not easily enforceable and detrimental to business.

That's crazy talk. I want my local police chasing down evil car washers, instead of tracking down murderers and rapists.

SCoach · 04-09-09, 05:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickery

If we didn't wash our cars, wouldn't the rain cause what ever is on the cars to end up on roads anyway?

If the rain degreased engines and melted off brake dust, detailing would be a lot less necessary...

Slickery · 04-09-09, 06:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCoach

If the rain degreased engines and melted off brake dust, detailing would be a lot less necessary...

The EPA makes an exception for the largest group of people who "offend", IE everyone except professional detailers, lol. If there is a grease problem on an engine, it's coming from something that is leaking and more then likely will drop fluids on the ground regardless if it's washed or not. And I'm sure rain and wind has been responsible for plenty of brake dust hitting the ground,

SuperBee364 · 04-09-09, 06:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickery

The EPA makes an exception for the largest group of people who "offend", IE everyone except professional detailers, lol. If there is a grease problem on an engine, it's coming from something that is leaking and more then likely will drop fluids on the ground regardless if it's washed or not. And I'm sure rain and wind has been responsible for plenty of brake dust hitting the ground,

Then that evil rain and wind should be *regulated*, now! In a way that'll make everyone sing kumbayah and feel good! How could we let this "wind" and this "rain" pollute our environment! Take action, now! (who cares if the numbers don't add up... we've never cared before.)

Slickery · 04-09-09, 06:42

One cool thing about our neighborhood is we have a filter in our sewer that the association of homes pays to clean once a year. It's a combination filter material and river rock. It not only catches the stuff from all us bad people who wash our cars in the driveway, but also fertilizers and pesticides. Maybe all sewer systems should have this model, instead of making unenforceable laws. We can pay for it with monopobama money.

Relaited · 04-09-09, 06:52

This commentary is exactly why the Regulators are doing what they are doing.

When I give testimony in front of the Regulators, I should just print these threads ... it's like talking about an industry that advocates cheating on taxes. Or an industry that complains about taxes, because they should not pay, or pay as much as another industry.

The States are regulating Home Washes, get with current events.

For all those that post to the contrary, instead of working on solutions ... good bye from this industry ... not sure where you will end up, but it will not be here.

-jim

weekendwarrior · 04-09-09, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relaited

This commentary is exactly why the Regulators are doing what they are doing.

When I give testimony in front of the Regulators, I should just print these threads ... it's like talking about an industry that advocates cheating on taxes. Or an industry that complains about taxes, because they should not pay, or pay as much as another industry.

The States are regulating Home Washes, get with current events.

For all those that post to the contrary, instead of working on solutions ... good bye from this industry ... not sure where you will end up, but it will not be here.

-jim

I think the type detailing you do is much different than what the typical autopia pro does. Don't take this the wrong way, but your model (I glanced at the website on your profile), appears to be like "MacDonald's". What I mean by this, is you seem have a standard process, that you repeat on a lot of cars, every day at a location (kind of like how MacDonald's churns out identical Big Macs all day).

Contrast that with the typical autopia pro. Most of us work on 1 car for 1 to 2 days (if not longer) at a time. We'll wash the car initially (you'd be surprised how many of us use rinseless washes as our primary wash method), then spend hours (many times well over 6 hours) just polishing and perfecting, in addition to interior work, and other items. We tailor the detail to the car...we don't try to churn out the same process car after car, as it isn't feasable for this type of detailing.

Your company probably washes hundreds of cars a week, versus the average autopia pro that may wash 3-5 at best. What I am getting at is that most detailers at this site aren't blowing through thousands of gallons of water per week as you seem to think. Sure...everyone, regardless of how much water they use needs to be respectful of the environment, as well as responsible. However, a lot of what I see the "water regulators" preaching doesn't make sense (from a common sense standpoint). The "fix" they are preaching in turn causes more polution in other areas. It's like taking 2 dollar bills out of your left pocket and moving them to your right pocket. The dollar bills are no longer in your left pocket, but they are still in your pants somewhere. Additonally, most of them seem to just try to make those who don't agree look evil, and don't present actual facts...Almost like it's a religion for them.

Good for you for being passionate about this issue (either you are truly passionate, or you are motivated a large financial stake in this type "detailing"???).

Slickery · 04-09-09, 07:11

The question is not who washes their car in the driveway, it's who doesn't. As for your original post, that has been CA law for a long long time, as I'm sure you know as you testify in this matter. Why Oxnard is finally recognizing it now is a little funny. Maybe they thought it was joke of a law for the last decade, but now want to take part in it.

Relaited · 04-09-09, 07:53

wow, weekend warrior. you PM'd me, so I gave you an answer ... but by your post here, it would appear to me that you are a weekender, and not a professional.

You are making my point that most in this industry are technicians, not business people. 2 days on a detail ... 6 hours perfecting paint ... holy cow, that is embarrassing from my point of view.

And, let's say I accept your logic, that most autopians are like you ... then in aggregate, you are all an issue. Law of big numbers

You will see, the regulators will fix this as I agree this is the dominant view of those here. That's why I share these threads with the regulators, so they can get a sense of what the industry really thinks.

Thanks for making my point.

I am passionate, and I am motivated by making money. That’s why I call it Water $mart Eco Detailing. I think it is a great model. When I sit 100 feet from the entrance of a Nordstrom’s … there is no way I could spend 2 days on that $80,000 Mercedes 2 years old. We spend about an hour with a team of 2 for $179 … thank you very much. Do you get over $1,200 for your 2 days of effort? Customers love the quality and convenience.

Don’t be mislead by threads on a forum as the best practices my friend … be open to learning new things.

Invitation still open to contact me. Honestly, i think you are well intentioned.

-jim

PS Autopians … is this true?