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Can you legally prevent a customer from driving an unsafe car?

Joe Marconi
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HarrytheCarGeek Experienced

HarrytheCarGeek

Posted
Posted

You got lucky.

 

I agree with you, but you went out on a very perilous limb. I would just have him sign a waiver/release, and recommended to have the vehicle pick up by a tow truck.

 

Moral obligations don't do too well in court when the other side knows their rights to property, so I am very weary of getting in their way.

mspecperformance Mentor

mspecperformance

Posted
Posted

if we can't legally hold a customer's vehicle then the lengths I will go is to document everything that we see in writing and in pictures maybe even videos. Walk the customer through the vehicle and explain to him in our professional opinion it is unfit for the road. At the end of the day I can't help ignorance if there is just blatant disregard to the information that is coming your way.

 

Its really commendable that you went that far Joe and that's why you're an amazing person! I personally won't go that far, im in the jungle.

Andre R Enthusiast

Andre R

Posted
Posted

If your state has a safety inspection then the way to handle it is how we used to do it. Call local or state police, inform them that you are a licensed state inspection station and a vehicle has been presented that is unsafe and should not be on the road. They will inform the owner that they have to tow it out .

If they tell you to let it go, get their name and badge #. The other way is to just have it towed to the customers house. These were my lawyers instructions to me when I ran an inspection station in Rhode Island, now I have a shop in AZ and we have no inspection. Talked to a lawyer and the cops here and was told that if I would try to stop somebody from taking their car here I could get arrested. Crazy world!

GeeZ Enthusiast

GeeZ

Posted
Posted

yeah, document that we indicated it was too unsafe to drive. I would never hold someones car like that

Same here.

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

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