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May 16, 2019

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

• Treasurer "Cautiously Optimistic" No Gas Tax Increase; Hints of New State Inspection Program; Town Council Bans E-Cigs; Marijuana Legalization Dead For Now; NJGCA Survey; ECo Nozzle Update; NJGCA DVOM Course

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Mercer County: Gas Station for Sale
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

• Can We Avoid Another Gas Tax Hike This Year? N.J. Treasurer Just Said She’s ‘Cautiously Optimistic’
• Barriers Still Remain for Autonomous Vehicles
• Beverly Hills Debates First U.S. Tobacco Ban
• San Francisco Bans Credit-Only Stores
• Reusable Food Packaging Avoids Recycling Hassles

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!

??????• ENTIRE EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26
??????• RECERTIFICATION EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: May 1, 8, 15, 22

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation!
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing
• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!
• Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

TREASURER "CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC" NO GAS TAX INCREASE
HINTS OF NEW STATE INSPECTION PROGRAM
TOWN COUNCIL BANS E-CIGS
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION DEAD FOR NOW
NJGCA SURVEY
ECo NOZZLE UPDATE
NJGCA DVOM COURSE

GAS TAX UPDATE

When the heads of departments in the administration testify to the budget committees in both the Assembly and the Senate, we can sometimes “take the temperature” of where certain legislation is headed and get a reasonable expectation from their testimony. We are in the budget season in Trenton, as the legislature and the governor need to pass a budget by midnight June 30th. You have heard me talk about this every year at this time. NJGCA has weighed in at the appropriate times when we were permitted to with our points of view and requests regarding both changes to the state inspection program and of course the gas tax. This past week, the treasurer testified to give the legislature her report on expected revenues and expenditures in all categories of state government. Everyone listened very intently as she gave her analysis and expectations regarding the Transportation Trust Fund and the gas tax. According to Treasurer Muoio, she is “cautiously optimistic” there will not be a need to raise the gas tax. Let me break that down for you: cautiously means that when the final analysis is done in August, the actual revenue numbers will determine if the tax needs to be increased. Often, revenues don’t meet hopes or expectations, resulting in the need for an increase. Optimistic means that she knows that the governor and the legislature will be skewered with voter anger if there is another increase. This is especially important since the entire Assembly is up for election in November. It will be very unfavorable to incumbent legislators if there is a gas tax increase on October 1.

NEW STATE INSPECTION PROGRAM

Also testifying this week were the heads of the Department of Transportation and the head of the Motor Vehicle Commission. Sue Fulton, who is the Chief at the Motor Vehicle Commission, communicated to the legislature that she expects a new inspection program will be unveiled in just a few weeks and that bids will be expected again in time to award a new contract by November. Yes, we have heard this before, and you may remember that this process took place in February of 2016. But because of a lot of legal protests, we are still stuck with the same program three years later. Unfortunately, Chief Fulton has refused to meet with NJGCA on this issue. This is regrettable, as every one of her predecessors welcomed me into their office within weeks of taking over the department. I’ll report to you as soon as I hear something.

TOWN COUNCIL BANS E-CIGS

This week, the Morristown town council voted to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and e-cigarette products. This was done at the behest of many parents in attendance of the council meeting this week concerned about the vaping use in underage users. The outright ban was enacted without working with current vendors to try to create a solution. Do you know when I found out about this? The morning after it passed and it was in the news, which is exactly how I find out what is going on in any municipal government. You must be diligent in letting us know when these meetings are happening and when these regulations are passed. If you are not paying attention to what is going on in your town, there is no way that NJGCA can take any action on your behalf until after it is too late. Think about how senseless this new ban is in Morristown, you will be able to walk in and purchase cigarettes easily, but you cannot purchase e-cigarettes that are less harmful to your health and are helping people to quit the habit of smoking cigarettes. Sometimes, government is quick to make decisions without much thought involved, when they could have passed something much more meaningful had they taken the time to involve stakeholders and think through what they were doing.

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Senate President Steve Sweeney announced this week that efforts to pass legislation to legalize marijuana would be left up to voters on the November 2020 ballot rather than through the state Legislature. In the meantime, we can expect lawmakers to make moves to expand the state’s medical program and expunge records for those with past convictions of possessing small amounts of pot. This comes after many months of back and forth in the legislature and the inability to secure enough votes to pass the bill. You can read more about the decision here. This may be tabled for now, but don’t expect this issue to go away any time soon. Regardless of your personal opinions about legalized marijuana, you must be concerned with how this affects you as an employer, and how you will deal with employees smoking pot, and when they smoke it.

SURVEY

You will all be receiving a survey this week that will give you an opportunity to tell us your thoughts about the importance of the many services that NJGCA provides for you. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey as it is important to me to know what is important to you. We will publish and discuss the findings of this survey in the July On The Road newsletter.

UPDATE TO ECO NOZZLE REQUIREMENT

Please take a moment to read this very important update from NJDEP to what we previously wrote in the OTR and last Road Warrior on CARB certified products:

The low permeation hoses and breakaways need to be CARB approved as well. As far as I know, there are at least 3 or 4 models of those available. Our inspectors have been enforcing that for quite a while now on the stage 1 only sites. Stage 2 equipment all needs to be CARB approved additionally since 2004, for the sites that haven’t decommissioned yet.

ENHANCED DVOM DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES

This event is only a few weeks away, and I want to be sure our auto repair members are taking advantage of this opportunity. We have sent out a number of emails in recent weeks about the first training course that we are sponsoring. I know many of you believe that you are experienced technicians and do not need the course that we are offering, Enhanced DVOM Diagnostic Strategies. However, we are learning that the most experienced auto techs may not realize or want to admit a course like this is the exact remediation that they need to build on their previous experience and training. Although this course may be only a refresher for all of you experienced techs, it is certainly designed to impart much knowledge on the less experienced techs in your shop. You should attend and bring your techs. The course will be offered in two night increments. The first course for North Jersey members will be June 5th and 6th in Ridgefield Park at Westview Service and hosted by NJGCA Treasurer Tim Arata. The second will be June 12th and 13th in Forked River at Lacey Auto Care hosted by member Rich Ritchie. Click HERE to see the flier which lists both sessions and location addresses, and click HERE to register for the event online. If you are interested in attending, make sure you register early; space is limited!

That's all for this week -
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

TRAINING CLASSES
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

Want to become an emission repair technician/facility?
Entire Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP) Training Classes
Sections 1-7
1 PM to 9 PM
May 1, 8, 15, 22
June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26

Sections 8, 9, 10 (RECERTIFICATION)
1 PM to 9 PM
May 1, 8, 15, 22

Stop turning away work!

The New Jersey Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Repair Facility and have a Licensed Emission Repair Technician perform the repairs! When the new Emissions Inspection program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Facilities will be given to the vehicle owners who fail the New Jersey Emission Inspection. If you want your business name on the list – make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technician and you are licensed as a Emission Repair Facility! Those signing up for the FULL training course will attend sections 1-10. Full ETEP class fees for members are $2,195 and non-members are $2,395. Recertification fees for members are $729 and non-members are $879. Note for Spring 2018 classes: Recertification dates will be held FIRST, with sections 1 to 7 to follow.

Click here for FULL ETEP REGISTRATION FORM
Click here for ETEP RECERTIFICATION FORM

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!

CLASSIFIEDS -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

FOR SALE:

Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.

New! Parts For Sale: Incon TS-1000 tank monitor works well just taken out of service. Printer is aprox 2 months old. Also, Incon 8, tank probes. System replaced because on an Exxon upgrade. Call John Twin Towers Exxon (201) 224-8444

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

5/14/19
Can We Avoid Another Gas Tax Hike This Year? N.J. Treasurer Just Said She’s ‘Cautiously Optimistic’
New Jersey Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio said Tuesday she’s “cautiously optimistic” the state will avoid another increase in the per-gallon tax on gasoline this fall. Budget analysts had warned last month that gas tax collections were falling behind, which could trigger another increase. But Muoio told state lawmakers Tuesday that “fuel consumption has improved somewhat” since April and tax collections have improved “slightly.”

5/13/19
Barriers Still Remain for Autonomous Vehicles
While 30% of U.S. consumers would prefer to ride in a self-driving car over a traditional vehicle in 12 months’ time, more than double (63%) say driverless cars will be their preferred mode of transport by 2029, reports Business Insider. These findings are part of Capgemini’s global report “The Autonomous Car: A Consumer Perspective,” which surveyed 5,000-plus people. The study found that some U.S. consumers have positive emotions about self-driving cars (36%) and expect to see benefits with autonomous vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency (73%), reduced emissions (71%) and time savings (50%). In fact, more than half of consumers (56%) say they would be willing to pay up to 20% more for an autonomous vehicle over a standard one.

5/10/19
Beverly Hills Debates First U.S. Tobacco Ban
Beverly Hills already restricts the sale of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. But the City Council is proposing to take it further by outlawing the sale of tobacco products everywhere except for select cigar lounges and luxury hotels, where guests will be permitted to acquire cigarettes through concierge or room service, U.S. News reports. California is one of 25 states that outlaws smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars, the Associated Press article reports. It also has one of the highest cigarette taxes in the country at nearly $3 a pack.

5/10/19
San Francisco Bans Credit-Only Stores
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to require brick-and-mortar retailers to take cash as payment, according to the Associated Press. Supervisor Vallie Brown, who introduced the legislation, said it “will go far in ensuring all San Franciscans have equitable access to the city’s economy.” Banning cash purchases prohibits young people, victims of ID theft, immigrants and homeless people from buying a simple sandwich or bottled water.

5/9/19
Reusable Food Packaging Avoids Recycling Hassles
Even as consumers become more aware of the issues of one-use items, such as food containers, recycling efforts have failed to tackle the giant problem of waste. Only 9% of the plastic waste generated since 2015 has been recycled, according to researchers from the University of Georgia and the University of California, reports SmartBrief.com. Reusable containers, which can be repeatedly cleaned and reused, offer a solution that some believe may be easier and simpler than recycling.

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions

Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available.

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum kW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group. Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills. There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund.

Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.