Posted to Emissions Forum on 8/14/2012

Hi Pete,

Thanks for commenting. My reason for 'sweating the small stuff' is as follows.

I have worked at the same shop for over ten years, so I'm not a big fan of change. We have been Gold Shield for most of that time, not because we particularly enjoy trying to turn garbage into gold for $500 or less, but because we need the directed inspection traffic to at least break even.

When Gold Shield goes away on 1-1-13, we must have a STAR Test and Repair license to continue testing directed vehicles. We do not qualify for STAR because of my insanely bad FuPR score. If nothing changes, I will be fired sometime next year, and will be completely and utterly unemployable as a Smog Technician because of my FuPR baggage. I'm 46 now, and I don't plan on busting my ass under hoods for the rest of my working years, but I'll be damned if I get pushed out of the business against my will by something as illogical and retarded as the FuPR.

Some may think that I'm over-reacting, but that's just my way of responding to vicious insults such as this.

Take care,

Michael Barry
Technician
Quick Stop Smog & More
Sacramento, California, USA