California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet filed multiple lawsuits today to shut down nine carwash businesses for failing to register with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. Bradstreet filed a similar suit against a Sacramento carwash in April. All 10 carwash businesses have been cited repeatedly for failing to register with the state, labor officials said.
“These 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 released statement. “This action is intended to send a clear and strong message to the carwash industry that we will not tolerate this illegal activity.”
Six of the lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The legal actions target Jose Orlando Benitez of Galaxy Detailing Hand Car Wash; Francisco Ramirez of Javi’s Car Wash; Trimax Melrose Inc. (doing business as Melrose Car Wash); Auto Spa Express Inc. (doing business as Sunset Car Wash); Sahara Car Wash; and Neo Brothers Inc. (doing business as Lynwood Car Wash).
Two lawsuits were filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court against San Jose businesses. Those suits named Zobeida Cabellero Zepeda of A & F Auto Detail, and Harvey Corral and Lorena Corral of Corral’s Auto Detail.
An additional lawsuit was filed in San Francisco Superior Court against San Francisco Car Wash LLC, which does business as Winning Finish Car Wash. In April, the labor commissioner filed suit in Sacramento County Superior Court against Sacramento employer Benigno Aguinaga Cervates of Benny’s Car Wash.
The labor commissioner’s office issued 863 carwash registrations last year compared to 642 in 2007, a 34 percent increase. Enforcement staff also inspected nearly one-third of all carwash businesses registered with the Employment Development Department, officials said.
Registration is part of the Car Wash Worker Law, which is set to expire Jan. 1, 2010. A new bill (AB 236) that would eliminate the law’s sunset date is currently up for vote on the floor of the state assembly. If passed, the law would become permanent.
As of June 1, there were 1,049 carwash locations registered in the state, according to a spreadsheet available for download on the Web site for California's Department of Industrial Relations. The site also features an explanation of registration requirements and procedures.
Self-service and automated carwashes that have employees only for cashiering or maintenance purposes are exempt. The law also exempts charity groups, rental car agencies, automotive dealers and car repair businesses that offer ancillary carwash services. All other businesses that employ anyone to provide carwash and/or vehicle polishing services as part of their operations must be registered with the state.
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