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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.
Halloween Cosmetic Contact Lenses Press Conference
The Board of Optometry held a news conference on October 26, 2010 to discuss safe ways to obtain cosmetic contact lenses, which are popular at Halloween, and to warn of the possible dangers of wearing non-prescription contacts.
California State Athletic Commission
The California State Athletic Commission met in Van Nuys on April 20, 2010.
California State Athletic Commission
The California State Athletic Commission met at the Ronald Reagan State Building in Los Angeles on February 22, 2010.
Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
The Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind held a press conference in San Francisco on February 24, 2010 to discuss attacks on guide dogs by other dogs.
Christmas Tree Fire Safety Media Event
Video and Photos by Loren Reed, Office of Public AffairsOn December 15, 2009, the Department of Consumer Affairs held its annual fire safety event. In addition to tips on avoiding fires during the holiday season, a live Christmas tree was set afire to demonstrate the fire danger of Christmas trees that are not properly cared for. In the burn room was an upholstered chair, gift wrapped boxes and two stuffed animals. The tree was fully engulfed in flames in less than 30 seconds.
Media crews wait as preparations are made to set fire to a Christmas tree that was not properly cared for
and allowed to dry out.
The tree begins to burn rapidly just seconds after ignition.
It doesn’t take long before everything in the room is in flames.
The upholstered chair in the burn room did not fare well.
Kim Kirchmeyer, DCA Deputy Director for Board and Bureau Relations, tries repeatedly and unsuccessfully
to ignite a live tree that has been well watered and properly cared for.
Watch the Bureau of Automotive Repair video titled "Clean-Piping Press Conference".
The Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair (DCA/BAR), in conjunction with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has shut down seven Santa Clara County Smog Check shops and arrested their technicians for "Clean Piping, a method to fraudulently inspect and certify vehicles that would not pass a Smog Check on their own". On October 21, 2009 BAR Chief Sherry Mehl and Santa Clara County District Attorney Delores Carr held a joint news conference to bring attention to the fact that "Clean Piping" is not only against the law, it's doing nothing to help clean our air. When a shop illegally certifies vehicles that do not meet emissions standards, it only makes our air quality problems worse.
Watch the Board of Optometry video titled "Cosmetic Contact Lenses Press Conference".
Halloween is supposed to be a fun time; free of any dangers. What's really scary on Halloween is the damage that can be done to an eye as a result of improperly wearing cosmetic contacts lenses. These lenses are especially popular among teens and young adults, who may not know the risks involved with unsanitary lenses, swapping of lenses, and not having contact lenses properly fitted. On October 20, 2009 the California Board of Optometry held a press conference warning consumers about the dangers of decorative contact lenses that are becoming increasingly popular accessories for Halloween costumes.
Watch the Bureau of Automotive Repair video entitled "Never Clean–Pipe a Car."
On July 6, 2009, investigators from the Dental Board of California and officers from the Tulare County Sheriff's Department searched an unlicensed dental operation in Earlimart. Severo Medina Rivera, 40, the unlicensed dentist, was arrested as were two unlicensed assistants, Diana Munez, 22 and Maria Aguilar, 37. All three face charges of practicing dentistry without a license and conspiracy. Here are some photos taken during the operation.
The treatment room inside the make-shift dental clinic at a house in Earlimart, Tulare County.
Conditions at the makeshift dental clinic were extremely unsanitary.
Patients in the waiting room are escorted out of the building by Tulare County Sheriff's deputies and investigators
from the Dental Board of California. There were several children waiting to get braces.
Patients waiting inside to see the unlicensed dentist are detained and questioned as witnesses outside the makeshift
clinic.
The unlicensed dentist and an unlicensed assistant hide their faces after being detained.
An unlicensed assistant, is arrested at the scene.
The unlicensed dentist is arrested and escorted to a Tulare County Sheriff's Department patrol car.
More than $700 was tossed out the window when investigators searched the illegal dental clinic.
Dental works in progress were found in a back room.
A loaded hand gun was found in a cupboard.
Investigators from the Dental Board of California.
The Dental Board of California's Nancy Butler provides enforcement details during a 6:00 p.m. live interview on KBAK TV-29 in Bakersfield.
Nancy Butler speaking at a news conference in Bakersfield following the arrest of an unlicensed dentist and two unlicensed assistants.
Bakersfield television stations KERO TV-23, KGET Channel 17, KBAK Channel 29 and Telemundo attend the news conference in Bakersfield.
Watch highlights of the webcast on Managing Credit Card Debt, hosted by the CA Dept of Consumer Affairs, June 24, 2009.
Spike Keil, Program Assistant, Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Speaks with DCA Deputy Director
of Communications, Luis Farias about the Governor’s new “Bank on California” initiative.
Carolyn Ballou, DCA External Affairs Liaison
Speaks with DCA partner Michael Lee, Golden 1 Credit Union, during the phone bank inside the department’s Consumer Information Center.
DCA Acting Chief Deputy Director, Patricia Harris and DCA Outreach Program Manager Michael Lafferty kick off the Live web forum.
Live Web Chat and Live Video web stream operation during the Web cast inside the department’s Consumer Information Center during the Web cast inside the department’s Consumer Information Center.
DCA Deputy Director of Communications, Luis Farias interviews, DCA partner Alejandro Godinez, Golden 1 Credit Union, during the Web cast inside the department’s Consumer Information Center.
DCA Carolyn Ballou, DCA External Affairs Liaison displays the department’s special issue of the Consumer Connection magazine during the live web forum.
DCA Carolyn Ballou, DCA External Affairs Liaison and DCA Acting Deputy Director of Consumer and Community Empowerment Division Sonja Merold conclude the Web cast inside the department’s Consumer Information Center.
The Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Automotive Repair shows consumers how simple maintenance can keep their cars on the road this summer.
Watch the Video
Program Manager Wayne Ramos displays good and bad air filters
Acting Chief Deputy Patty Harris (left) and BAR Chief Sherry Mehl (right)
Setup for Summer Driving Tips Press Conference
Poorly maintained engine
Well maintained engine
Watch the feature story about the CA Department of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Information Center's first “Open House Tour” conducted on May 13, 2009
BAR treats families with information and fun at Sunrise Mall at BAR's Inaugural Drive Healthy Days event. Citrus Heights Mayor, James Shelby, declares Drive Healthy Day in Citrus Heights - April 25, 2009
Family fun and vehicle information at Sunrise Mall.
Painting, vehicle information and family fun during the event.
The display by BAR promotes keeping your car tuned and running efficiently.
The tossing game was part of the family fun during the day.
BAR chief, Sherry Mehl strikes a Drive Healthy Day pose.
Catalytic converter comparison chart to inform consumers.
BAR displays a canister that represents 40 ponds of pollution emitted by the average vehicle each year.
BAR Chief, Sherry Mehl inviting consumers to stay informed.
Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Automotive Repair workshop on diesel powered vehicle Smog Check inspections - March 5, 2009
Diesel undergoing visible smoke test
Diesel workshop in DCA parking lot
BAR Chief Sherry Mehl addressing media
Performing visual inspection of emission control components
ARD's gathered to watch visual inspection
Christmas Tree Fire Safety Media Event
Photos by Loren Reed, Office of Public Affairs
A decorated dry Christmas tree, several holiday gifts (including a stuffed animal) and home furniture prior to ignition in the Burn Room at the Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation (BHFTI) in North Highlands, Calif.
Bureau Chief Rick Fong welcomes the news media in the conference room at BHFTI.
Director Carrie Lopez, Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), provides the news media with tips on Christmas tree fire safety in the conference room at BHFTI.
Cameramen from Sacramento's KXTV Channel 10 (ABC) and Capitol Television News Service video tape DCA Director Carrie Lopez in the conference room at BHFTI.
Jamal Maazouddin, textile technician II, ignites a decorated dry Christmas tree in the Burn Room at BHFTI.
A decorated dry Christmas tree goes up in flames in the Burn Room at BHFTI.
A dry Christmas tree ignites in the Burn Room at BHFTI.
Cameramen from Sacramento's KXTV Channel 10 (ABC) and Capitol Television News Service video tape
glowing embers from a dry Christmas tree on fire in the Burn Room at BHFTI.
What's left of a charred Christmas tree, holiday gifts and furniture smolder in the Burn Room at
BHFTI.
An incinerated chair, Christmas tree and ottoman sit in eerie silence in the Burn Room at BHFTI.
Marianne Russ (right), Capital Public Radio reporter, Sacramento, interviews DCA Director Carrie Lopez outside the Burn Room at BHFTI.
DCA Director Carrie Lopez (left), Bureau Chief Rick Fong and a fresh Christmas tree outside the Burn Room at BHFTI.
Watch the video
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.
Watch the Video
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.
Watch the Video
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.
Watch the Video
