Another Hidden Tax

Why businesses fail:

They’re at it again. So as not to call it a tax, the city has quietly passed a “vehicle establishment inspection program” for auto repair facilities.

It was easy because nobody likes repair shops.

What this means is that once a year, an inspector will visit each repair shop and look to see if a car is being worked on outside, which brings a $750 fine, or if there is a building-code violation. It has nothing to do with the quality of repairs.

The problem is that a big car dealer pays $300, but so does a small repair shop that has maybe only one service bay.

An auto repair center with, say, 10 tenants pays $3,000. The city sends a bill to the tenant and to the landlord at the same time, hoping $6,000 will come in.

I am filing a lawsuit against the city, because if this isn’t stopped, they’ll have an annual inspection fee next for every store and business and then come into your house.

HAYDEN D. HAMILTON

Sherman Oaks