AAA DEMANDS CUSTOMER LISTS FROM AAA-APPROVED REPAIR SHOPS
NEW TECHNOLOGY HELPS PREVENT CREDIT CARD SKIMMING
$15/HOUR MINIMUM WAGE BILL REMOVED FROM SCHEDULE IN TRENTON
LEGISLATION TO PREVENT SALE OF UNSAFE TIRES ADVANCES IN TRENTON

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing Labor Day weekend. Summer is over, and this week has been busier than ever. I've been traveling since Wednesday (annual Weights and Measures Conference in Atlantic City, and annual Service Station Dealers of America (SSDA) board meeting in Ocean City, Maryland) so Jacy and Eric handled the Road Warrior for me! After giving a (short) speech at the Weights and Measures Conference in Atlantic City I was on my way to Maryland, where, in addition to attending the annual SSDA board meeting, I'll be spending some time with our friends from our sister association in Maryland, the WMDA, to compare notes on a couple of issues, the first of which I am going to introduce next.  Their members are in the same position that our members are in, so I’m hoping we can compare notes to see what actions they will be taking, and hopefully we’ll be able to work together to secure a positive outcome.
 
There are many NJGCA repair shops (and many out-of-state as well) that are having problems with AAA.  Many repair shops have gone through the process of becoming AAA-approved repair shops, but now it seems that AAA is demanding these shops provide their customer lists to AAA. Of course, no one should be required to share their customers with any competitor and AAA is in fact a competitor! AAA operates their own modern, multi-bay repair centers in direct competition with NJGCA members.  I am having a meeting at the NJGCA office on Monday, September 12^th at 5:00 PM with the members who have come to me with this issue. We will investigate the matter further and discuss what action can be taken to protect against this. If your shop is AAA-approved, please attend this meeting. As with all things that NJGCA does, our voice and our impact is greater when we have the support of a large group behind us. WE NEED YOU to help us help you.  We can’t fight this fight FOR you and we can’t fight this fight WITHOUT you, but we will do everything we can to stand by your side, with all of the guidance and resources that we have at our disposal. Additionally, if you have friends who have AAA-approved shops but are not members of NJGCA, they are more than welcome to join our efforts! Please simply call the office and speak to Debbie to let her know that you will be attending. Since it will be dinner time, I will provide some pizza and soda. Please attend this meeting if you can. Debbie can be reached at 732-256-9646. The address for NJGCA HQ is 4900 Route 33, Suite 100, Wall Twp, 07753.
 
Before I left this week, I had a meeting on the topic of credit card skimming.  I need to know if my members have been personally affected by credit card skimming, or had their businesses targeted.  We are looking into additional ways to keep your dispensers “secure” and we have been approached by a company that provides tamper-evident labels (sort of like a security “tape”) that can help retailers identify potential security breaches if/when skimming devices are inserted at fuel dispensers or other unattended PIN-entry devices.

These decals would be clear and evident to all customers and potential thieves that your dispensers and devices are protected. So I need to know if my members have been affected by credit card skimming in New Jersey and if there is an interest in finding out another way to protect yourself, your business and your customers from credit card skimming.  PLEASE REACH OUT TO LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING NJGCA PURSUE! You can reply directly to this email or call the office at 732-256-9646.
 
Next, there was some activity in Trenton this week as well.  All of you should know that the $15/hour minimum wage was vetoed by Governor Christie last week. In the press conference that the Governor held he specifically mentioned the effect that a $15/hour minimum wage would have on a man in Bergen County who owns "two gas stations and a convenience store" whose payroll costs would increase from $380,000/yr to $600,000 per year.  This man was an NJGCA member who provided testimony to lawmakers in Trenton when the $15/hour minimum wage was being considered.  Clearly his message and testimony resonated with the Governor and his staff.  Click HERE for a short clip of the Governor's press conference which includes this mention.

Some of you may know (if your state Senator serves on the Senate Labor Committee you received an email), that the Democrats have now begun the process of allowing voters to decide on a constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. The process was supposed to begin on Thursday in the Senate Labor Committee but the bill was pulled.  We don’t know why, but we do know that this is a top priority for Democrats and it is sure to be back in the near future. We will continue to ask for your support as we fight this proposal and we will need YOU to demonstrate exactly how harmful this proposal will be to your business.
 
There was another issue in Trenton this week that NJGCA weighed in on, and that was “unsafe tires.” The legislation would prevent the sale of unsafe tires, which occurs if the tire possesses one of seven different characteristics that deem it “unsafe.”  The seven characteristics are:

1. has a tread depth of less than 1/16 inch measurable in any groove;

2. has any damage exposing the reinforcing plies of the tire, including any cuts, cracks, bulges, punctures, scrapes, or wear;

3. has any improper repairs, including, but not limited to:

(a) any repair to the sidewall or bead area of the tire;
(b) any repair made in the tread shoulder or belt edge area of the tire;
(c) any puncture that has not been sealed or patched on the inside and repaired with a cured rubber stem through the outside of the tire; or
(d) any puncture repair of damage larger than 1/4 inch;

4. shows evidence of prior use of a temporary tire sealant without evidence of a subsequent proper repair;
5. has a defaced or missing tire identification number;
6. has inner liner or bead damage; or
7. shows indication of internal separation, such as bulges or local areas of irregular tread wear.

Eric testified in support of the bill, and proposals similar to this have been supported in other states by the Tire Industry Association (TIA, representing tire dealers nationally) and the Rubber Manufacturers. We trust that none of our retailers would engage in these practices in the first place, and we are in full support of cracking down on any and all unscrupulous retailers who try to cheat their customers and endanger public safety. The money these dishonest retailers pocket from such sales gives them a competitive advantage over good retailers and repairers. Eric also pointed out the importance of tire safety given the fact that safety inspections for passenger vehicles were eliminated 6 years ago. The bill passed unanimously. You can read a copy of the submitted testimony by clicking here.
 
Finally, I need to once again remind you about the important events NJGCA is hosting or participating in during September.

1. AAA approved repair shops on Monday, September 12^th at 5:00 pm (see above for details)
2. Wednesday, September 14^th at 9:30 AM – NJGCA Diner Tour at The Roxbury Diner, 101 Route 10 East, Succasunna, NJ. We have a strong membership in this area and we hope that a free breakfast and a chance to catch up on all that has been going on in the Association will be enough to get you out of the shop for a couple of hours. With any questions or to RSVP, please call Jacy at 732-256-9646. If your shop is in Morris County, you can expect both emails and phone calls inviting you to join us, so save us all the trouble and RSVP now!
3. Saturday, September 24th from 9 AM to 1 PM -- NJGCA member Jacki Stergion (owner of Skillender’s Service Center) is hosting an event with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the West Picnic Area, Mercer County Park in West Windsor. Jacki’s family was personally touched by Traumatic Brain Injury when her husband suffered a slip and fall accident in her shop in 2011. The Family Fun Day on September 24^th is designed to give children a special day of fun and enjoyment, and allow parents and caregivers a precious few hours of much-needed respite. This event is free for children and families, and has been made possible by some very generous contributions of time and money. However, Jacki is still looking for anyone who may be able to help. If you have special skills or hidden talents (face painting, clowns, balloon twisting) or you know anyone who might be interested in volunteering their time for a very worthwhile event please reach out to Jacy at 732-256-9646. Additionally, the Brain Injury Alliance always welcomes donations, and any monetary contributions will be recognized on the back of a tee-shirt being given to all children at the event. This event is a very personal cause for our member and we think it is so great that she has found a way to give back to the community. NJGCA will be out supporting Jacki on September 24^th and we hope that you will get involved, too! Please contact Jacy at 732-256-9646 if you are able to help or are interested in attending. Click HERE for an informational flyer with additional details about the event.

Thanks for reading -- See you all next week!

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

09/07/2016:
Pressure Mounts to Increase Legal Purchase Age for Tobacco
In the past two years, the number of legislative proposals on the local and state levels to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products has increased significantly, with the vast majority of proposals focused on raising the legal purchasing age to 21. One of the main reasons for this emphasis on raising the legal age is an FDA-sponsored study conducted by the Institute of Medicine, which concluded that “the impact of raising the minimum legal age to 21 will likely be substantially higher than raising it to 19. However, the added effect of raising the age from 21 to 25 will likely be considerably less.” Since the FDA does not have the authority to raise the federal legal age to purchase tobacco products (only Congress has that power), local and state lawmakers are proceeding with efforts to change the minimum legal age to buy tobacco products. Based on NATO’s tracking and monitoring services, cities and counties in 15 different states have adopted proposals to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products.  There have been 19 different municipalities in New Jersey that have raised the age to 21, and New Jersey is one of only two states in the country that still has a bill pending in the State Legislature to raise the age for the entire state to 21.
 
09/03/2016:
Drive-thru convenience store chain to open in 2 N.J. counties
New Jersey drivers can already get coffee, fast food, cash and even beer without leaving their cars. Soon, they'll be able to get groceries, too. Making this possible is the mission of Farm Stores, a drive-through convenience store that plans to open 100 locations throughout the state in the next 10 years. First on the list for development: Union and Somerset counties, where company executives are scouting sites and hope to open a store within the next six months. They have not yet chosen specific locations. The Miami-based brand already operates at about 70 locations across Florida, but executives say they now see an opportunity to expand the chain's reach. Many people often travel between South Florida and the Northeast, creating familiarity with Farm Stores, said Chief Operating Officer Maurice Bared. On top of that, New Jersey's sometimes harsh winter weather can make people dread stepping outdoors. As a result, Bared said, he expects that a large number of people will welcome the chance to have groceries delivered to their cars. The company is specifically marketing itself to busy mothers tasked with daily child care.  "We're hyper-focused on Mom," Bared said. "Seventy-five percent of our customer base is female."
 
09/01/2016:
Customer Fights Armed Robber at Gas station, Gets Shot in Leg
Surveillance video of a robbery at a Delta gas station shows a customer trying to kick an armed man out of the store before the man shoots at the patron. The video from Sunday appears to show a bullet shattering the glass door as the customer turns and runs. Elizabeth police said the customer was struck in the right leg around 5:45 a.m. when a man robbed the gas station on Spring Street. The customer refused to lie down when the armed man came in, and a bullet ricocheted off a key in his pocket, News 12 reported.  The man made out with about $130 from a gas attendant before he fled south on Route 1&9 in a black car driven by another person, police said.  Police said the victim was brought to UMDNJ in Newark and was in stable condition. Manager Raj Singh told NJ Advance Media the store had seen three armed robberies in the past two weeks. Elizabeth police are investigating. Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Detective Tom Koczur at (908) 558-2048.