Car Wash Industry aims to stop driveway washing

Current information from the City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program.



(note there is no mention of car washing as being disallowed... only tips on responsible behavior)



http://www.lacity.org/SAN/wpd/WPD/education/bmps/carwash.htm



In October 1998, the City of Los Angeles passed the Stormwater and Urban Runoff Pollution Control Ordinance, which regulates all stormwater-polluting activities. However, the City agreed to provide an exemption for "car washing performed as a charitable or social fundraising activity by scholastic, religious, or community organizations in the City of Los Angeles." This exemption is based on an understanding of the intrinsic value of car wash fundraisers to communities and youth throughout the City. The Regional Water Quality Control Board required the City to develop a set of "good housekeeping" pollution prevention practices for distribution to and implementation by these organizations to minimize stormwater pollution from car washing events.



http://www.lacity.org/SAN/wpd/WPD/residents/faqs.htm#car wash



Q: I wash my own car. How can I be environmentally responsible?



A: The best place to wash your car is to pull it up on the lawn or gravel. Use biodegradable soaps to wash you vehicle, using as little water as possible. Shut off water while washing your car, then rinse. Remember not to leave your car on the lawn. We would highly recommend going to a full or self service car wash because the used water is recycled.
 
I am amused to find that in almost every case I found that proposes banning driveway washing (or mobile detailing) a Commercial Car Wash enterprise or consortium is behind the effort.



Another case of the bullying of simple folks by wealthy business interests.



It never ends, the Simon Legrees of the world will never be satisfied until they own and control every movement of common people. A continuing effort of a few fortunates trying to own the world.



Today it may be a consortium of local operators, until they have control. Then the buyouts and mergers will follow, even using Mafia style practices, until one company emerges as the Microsoft of car washing.



Pinky: What are we going to do today???



Brain: The same thing we do every day, Pinky, TAKE OVER THE WORLD !!!
 
I have seen some cases in a number of the articles I have found where local carwash operators are calling for enforcement on mobile detailers and charity carwashes. That much is true and to a certain extent I can agree with what they are asking for in principle. If they are bound by the restrictions on water treatment (and are forced to pay through the nose to comply) then why should everyone who is trying to make money by washing cars not play by the same rules? I will agree that it may leave people with a bad taste in their mouth because the "greedy" carwash owners are trying to impose their will upon them but if the law applies to them then they should have to follow it too. However, I have not seen one single piece of evidence that any carwash or trade group is behind the legislation to ban or limit home car washing. Environmental groups? Perhaps but not carwashes. Will they try to capitalize on the situation if it does happen? Of course and so would you if you were in their place. That's like saying McDonald's wouldn't be all for it if they were to ban bbq's in your backyard. They wouldn't be the ones behind banning the bbq but they would be the first one trying to sell you a burger because you could no longer cook your own. That's the basic principle of a free market economy.
 
wblynch said:
I am amused to find that in almost every case I found that proposes banning driveway washing (or mobile detailing) a Commercial Car Wash enterprise or consortium is behind the effort.



Another case of the bullying of simple folks by wealthy business interests.



It never ends, the Simon Legrees of the world will never be satisfied until they own and control every movement of common people. A continuing effort of a few fortunates trying to own the world.



Today it may be a consortium of local operators, until they have control. Then the buyouts and mergers will follow, even using Mafia style practices, until one company emerges as the Microsoft of car washing.



Pinky: What are we going to do today???



Brain: The same thing we do every day, Pinky, TAKE OVER THE WORLD !!!



Gee, is it me, or did you find the same damn thing I found - the only people behind the driveway car washing ban is the commercial car wash industry.



Gee, what a surprise. Hey, SHineShop, guess I'm not taking my paranoia pills after all!!!:D



BTW, wblynch excellent posts!! Absolutely outstanding research.:up :xyxthumbs
 
Show me where the carwash industry is behind the ban on driveway carwashing please. The only thing I have seen is carwashes banding together to force the cities to make mobile detailers and charity carwashes that are charging money for carwashes accountable and play by the same rules they are bound by. I have not seen one iota of evidence to back up what you are saying other than people on this thread saying that's why the ban is being proposed.
 
McDonalds may not appear to be behind banning backyard BBQ's but that's the way the wealthy work.



Appear to be disaffected when in fact they are greasing politicians with surrepticious campaign contributions or providing "research" and "testing results".



Standing by and then innocently proclaiming, "Who? Me?", when any question of impropriety arises.



Do you think that the milti-billion dollar lobbying industry exists without corporate sponsorship?



And of course we all hear from time-to-time about some politician's son/daughter/brother... landing some obscene-paying job with some firm, somewhere, that just happens to have a connection to some sort of legislation.



Land developers have corrupted local and regional politicians to the bone. Why would I think car wash operators would be any different?
 
Good Lord. There sure are a lot of cynics on this forum.

cyn·ic n.

1. A person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness.

2. A person whose outlook is scornfully and often habitually negative.



This whole discussion is a good example of cynicism in it's truist form. Everyone opposed to the ban understands the cost to them - they can't wash their car at home anymore (boo hoo). However, it seems none of you seem to understand the value of the ban (or the reason for it) being the preservation of clean water supply. Sad, really sad. I am done with this one and all that needs to be said has been said at least on my part.
 
ShineShop said:
Good Lord. There sure are a lot of cynics on this forum.

cyn·ic n.

1. A person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness.

2. A person whose outlook is scornfully and often habitually negative.



This whole discussion is a good example of cynicism in it's truist form. Everyone opposed to the ban understands the cost to them - they can't wash their car at home anymore (boo hoo). However, it seems none of you seem to understand the value of the ban (or the reason for it) being the preservation of clean water supply. Sad, really sad. I am done with this one and all that needs to be said has been said at least on my part.



Am I a cynic? Guilty as charged!



and your point is what, again????



By the way, my very first college professor defined selfishness: as an intelligent concern for ones own affairs.
 
ShineShop said:


Everyone opposed to the ban understands the cost to them - they can't wash their car at home anymore (boo hoo). However, it seems none of you seem to understand the value of the ban (or the reason for it) being the preservation of clean water supply.




I am not opposed to clean water supply. My problem is with knee-jerk reactions and potential legislation that is nothing more than window-dressing for a real problem.



Take the US's Patriot Act and Homeland Security for a fine example.



A lot of people are running around in circles, costing hundreds of billions of dollars and making citizens' lives miserable in the name of "security".



In fact, all that needs to be done is secure the "prize" (airplane) from the evil-doers. Make it impossible to take over a plane by putting reinforced doors on the cockpit and automated remote controls so that a compromised plane can be taken back by the ground crews.



If a terrorist can not get a plane, and can not control a plane if they do get in there, then there is no reward. They go away.



A simple solution is overlooked for a complex Rube Goldberg affair that will never work.



(kind of like thinking a steering wheel "club" will keep your car from getting stolen).





Washing my car in the driveway does nothing worse to the environment than letting it sit there to be rinsed by rain.



I'm done as well.
 
Originally posted by Len_A

"Am I a cynic? Quilty as charged! and your point is what, again????""



First off - what the hell is "quilty"? Sorry - I couldn't resist. The point? Read the definition.
 
ShineShop said:
Originally posted by Len_A

"Am I a cynic? Quilty as charged! and your point is what, again????""



First off - what the hell is "quilty"? Sorry - I couldn't resist. The point? Read the definition.



Guilty, already corrected. You would think that by now I could type. LOL. You may delete your post..........
 
Scottwax said:
This isn't a free market issue but a governmental regulation issue.



You missed my point Scott. What I was referring to was not the laws and/or regulations. We were discussing the issue of carwashes trying to push for and subsequently capitolize on the ban.
 
ShineShop said:
You missed my point Scott. What I was referring to was not the laws and/or regulations. We were discussing the issue of carwashes trying to push for and subsequently capitolize on the ban.



I, for one, firmly believe that they are pushing for the ban, and would absolutely capitalize on such a ban. I don't believe I'm being unreasonable either - since commercial car washes already have a pretty good clientèle now (face it, we, as Autopians, are not in the majority of people as far as how they take care of their cars), I see no other reason for their trade publications to be bringing up the idea of banning driveway car washing, except for using such a ban to benefit their members through the increased business such a ban would bring.



This discussion has become more than a little heated at times, but I still can't understand how anyone could possible NOT see an ulterior motive in the commercial car wash industry being the largest group, if not the only group, calling for an outright ban on driveway car washing, and being really the only group who could financially benefit from such a ban if it were enacted.
 
Len_A said:
I, for one, firmly believe that they are pushing for the ban, and would absolutely capitalize on such a ban. I don't believe I'm being unreasonable either - since commercial car washes already have a pretty good clientèle now (face it, we, as Autopians, are not in the majority of people as far as how they take care of their cars), I see no other reason for their trade publications to be bringing up the idea of banning driveway car washing, except for using such a ban to benefit their members through the increased business such a ban would bring.



This discussion has become more than a little heated at times, but I still can't understand how anyone could possible NOT see an ulterior motive in the commercial car wash industry being the largest group, if not the only group, calling for an outright ban on driveway car washing, and being really the only group who could financially benefit from such a ban if it were enacted.



We've both made our points here. Let's not beat a dead horse any longer.
 
ShineShop said:
You missed my point Scott. What I was referring to was not the laws and/or regulations. We were discussing the issue of carwashes trying to push for and subsequently capitolize on the ban.



pat.gif
 
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