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Multimedia
Office of Public Affairs
1625 North Market Boulevard, Suite N 323
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 574-8170
Welcome to DCA's multimedia page. This page features video, audio and photos of DCA consumer protection activities.
Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind - August 21, 2008
The Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind arranged for students at Natomas Park Elementary School in Sacramento to learn more about guide dogs, what they do, and how they're trained.
Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair - July 2
On June 24-25, the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair (BEAR) conducted a sting operation in Citrus Heights aimed at unlicensed activity. During the operation, 15 Notices of Violation were issued, warning individuals of their need to be licensed; 12 Citations were issued to individuals who had previously been served with Notices of Violation; 1 Infraction was issued, giving notice to appear before a judge; and 1 Misdemeanor criminal complaint was filed. Unlicensed activity is a major concern of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), constituting about one-third of the Department's enforcement workload.
Here is video from the July 2 news conference announcing the results of the sting. The video features DCA Director Carrie Lopez discussing the need to ensure electronic and appliance repairpersons are licensed, and Acting BEAR Chief Rick Fong.
"We are very sensitive to the fact that, in these tough economic times, that folks may not be spending on new purchases but repairing what they currently have so far as any of their appliances, computers and so forth. So it is very important that consumers do their homework before hiring a professional. That means steps as simple as checking their license - asking to see it or verifying it through our website." -- DCA Director Carrie Lopez.
"One of the reasons we take it (unlicensed activity) very seriously in terms of the access, especially that computer repair folks have, is that these computers are housing all the private information of consumers. And that's one of our greatest concerns is what access they have, in that there's this blind trust that consumers will put in (repairpersons) because they're identifying themselves as professionals and yet they're not licensed and there's nothing to hold them to any ethics around being a California professional." -- DCA Director Carrie Lopez
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology - April 14
On April 12, 2008, Inspectors from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology conducted a sweep of several San Francisco salons. Of the 19 shops visited during the daylong sweep, 13 were cited for violations of state regulations usually consisting of the business or employees or both not being properly licensed. Although unlicensed activity was the focus of the sweep, inspectors also cited operators for obvious health and safety violations. Nineteen individuals were also cited for working without a license. One shop was placed on immediate probation for unsanitary foot spas under AB 409.
The total fine amount for the sweep was $42,400. Here is video from the April 14 news conference featuring DCA Director Carrie Lopez discussing the importance of ensuring salons are properly licensed.
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology - February 19, 2008
On February 19, the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology unveiled its latest weapon to protect consumers from dirty footspas – a new law which allows the Board to place a salon on immediate probation for one year when inspectors discover health and safety violations at pedicure stations. The salon owner is then required to take remedial sanitation training and submit monthly reports to the Board under penalty of perjury. The shop is also subject to reinspection up to four times at the owner's expense.
Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair - February 13 & 14, 2008
The Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair (BEAR) conducted a sting operation at a home in San Diego February 13 and 14, aimed at unlicensed activity. Several businesses were contacted to provide computer and television repairs. During the two days, 11 businesses were issued notices of warning. The unlicensed businesses were found in the local telephone books and in ads in the local Pennysaver, underscoring the need for consumers to check the license of anyone they hire.
