TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREEWIRE EV CHARGING OPPORTUNITY
GIFT CARD SCAM GUIDELINES
NATIONWIDE MENTHOL CIGARETTE BAN PROPOSED
NJGCA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: APPLY TODAY!
PLASTIC BAG BAN OFFICIALLY IN EFFECT
CREDIT CARD THEFT
Last week we received a message from a member that his station had been planted with credit card skimmers and sent pictures to us to disseminate to members to be on the lookout (see above for what the skimming device looks like). Unfortunately for this member, this is the second time someone has placed a skimming device on his pumps. He has now placed padlocks on his pumps. However, there are other methods you can employ to try to prevent skimming devices or other hacking devices from being implanted. We have mentioned a few times using security tape, a less expensive alternative as a way to monitor if your pumps have been tampered with. Once the seal is broken you will know the pump has been opened. If you add security tape and check the pump at every shift change, you will know if someone was in your pump to install a device. In the case of this member, the police actually stopped in while the perps were committing their crime and interviewed them and let them leave. That is how stealth this whole operation of implanting devices can be. Between this story and what we mentioned last week; a new type of device that changes the price of the gas on the pump, we felt it was important to remind you all to be extra cautious lately of increased car-related crime and do what you can now to prevent something like this from happening to you.
Again, here are some links to different types of security tapes:
And if you do not have a video security system in place, I urge you to contact our MBP Dan Goff at Able-Tech to go over options on upgrading your business's security system.
EV CHARGING
There's never enough that can be said about the growth of EVs and the need to have charging facilities. We have been sending emails regarding our MBP FreeWire's additional revenue to expand their charging network, as well as NJDEP's grant program, which is coming to a close on May 13th. We encourage you to look into this and continue to investigate, we provided you with as much info as possible. FreeWire is a great place to get started, as they have offered to help any interested members apply to the program, complete your paperwork, and submit an application to NJDEP for you. I keep saying it over and over every customer that buys an EV is a customer that you will never see at your pumps again, and likely in your repair shop either unless you transition to be able to service EVs. If you only have a repair shop without pumps, you still should be considering having a charging station, we have repair shop members that have already added them. C-store owners are also affected by this. When people stop in to charge their BEVs, they have a great potential to buy a cup of coffee or snacks and sandwiches to pass the time. If your application to NJDEP is approved, they will pay for up to $200,000 in costs for new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) charging stations--including fast chargers, and FreeWire is offering to comlete the application for you. There's no reason not to take them up on this amazing offer! Reach out to Graham Warnock or Patrick Flahive at FreeWire today and ask about the NJDEP charging application to get started: Graham Warnock (Email:gwarnock@freewiretech.com, Phone:443.564.3303), Patrick Flahive (Email: pflahive@freewiretech.com, Phone: 217.691.5185).
GIFT CARD SCAMS
For those of you who sell gift cards in your stores, the Division of Consumer Affairs issued a consumer alert on gift card scams along with guidelines for retailers to train their employees on how to spot signs that a customer may be a victim of fraud. They have issued materials that retailers should use to train employees, you can find that notice HERE. The materials include information for retail employees to understand their employer's policy for reporting suspected gift card fraud, and the guidelines encourage consumers and retailers to be familiar with a number of best practices to curb fraud. The law states you have to provide these materials to all employees by Aug 1st, including all new employees after that date.
MENTHOL CIGARETTE BAN
Last week, the FDA formally proposed a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes, which also will include flavored cigars and cigarillos. While this was formally proposed last week, it may not actually take effect for a year or two, with tobacco companies likely to contest the rule in court. This could result in a long legal battle and more delays. However, the process has officially begun. We will keep our ears to the ground on any movement with this and keep you informed of any updates.
NJGCA SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Our scholarship application is now live and we are accepting both mailed and online applications. Last year, NJGCA awarded four scholarships to children of NJGCA members and the children of employees of NJGCA members. A total of $10,000 was awarded with $5000 being contributed thanks to the generosity of Utica Insurance. Utica Insurance is the insurance company that insures many NJGCA members. The contribution was arranged by NJGCA MBP Amato Agency. Once again, Utica has contributed $5000 towards a scholarship that is to be awarded to a student attending an automotive technical school or studying automotive technology. The NJGCA Board of Directors has also approved additional awards. Each NJGCA member will be entitled to submit ONE application that will be reviewed by the scholarship committee. Applicants may be either the child of a member, or an employee, or the child of an employee that works for the NJGCA member. You can find both the mail-in application and the online application HERE. Do not forget to include the other documentation required (transcripts, essays, etc) to be considered.
BAG BAN
We have been reminding you for the last few months about New Jersey's plastic bag ban, which officially went into effect yesterday. The first violation for giving out a plastic bag is a warning, but the second is a $1,000 fine for every day you give out plastic bags. To avoid these fines, you should all familiarize yourself with the new law.
Single-use paper bags will still be allowed, but only for convenience stores under 2,500 square feet and businesses that do not sell food. Paper bags are generally more expensive than plastic bags, and c-stores under 2,500 sq. ft. are free to choose not to provide them at all and instead ask customers to either go bagless or purchase a reusable carryout bag. Stores could also charge a small fee for a paper bag if they wished to. Reusable carryout bags are defined as a bag that "(1) is made of polypropylene, PET nonwoven fabric, nylon, cloth, hemp product, or other machine washable fabric; (2) has stitched handles; and (3) is designed and manufactured for multiple reuse." We encourage you to stock some of these bags for sale to customers.
There are several small exemptions to the plastic bag ban: a bag used solely to contain uncooked meat or fish, a bag used to package loose items like fruit, nuts, coffee, candy, flowers, small hardware items, etc., a bag used to contain food sliced or prepared to order including soup or hot food, a newspaper bag.
Also banned are most food packaging products made of expanded polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam. This includes drink cups and food containers. There are several exceptions: disposable long-handled foam soda spoons used for thick drinks, portion cups 2oz or less, trays for raw meat or fish, and food that was prepackaged by the manufacturer with Styrofoam.
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753
ASE Training Course - Reach Out Today!
Are you (or an employee) getting ready to take your A6, A8, or L1 in preparation to recertifying your Emission Repair Technician (ERT) credentials through the State's Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP)?
We can help --- but we need to hear from you, first! NJGCA wants to hear from students interested in our ASE-prep training program, so we can gauge demand and schedule our next session series.
As you know, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has always maintained a "dual-track" system to allow technicians to earn their Emission Repair Technician (ERT) credentials through New Jersey's Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP). In doing so, technicians were allowed to certify as ERTs through either an ASE-test track or an ETEP-educational class track. Starting on January 1, 2020, NJDEP amended the ETEP criteria, and the ETEP-educational class track was abolished.
Today, only the ASE-test track remains, and all ERTs must certify or re-certify their credentials though ASE to remain in the Program.
NJGCA has recently offered an ASE-prep class to help you get ready for the A6, A8, and L1. In doing so, students were welcome to participate in a ten-session preparatory class that covered material for all three ASE exams. We also had a handful of students who joined us only for the A8 or L1 sections.
Once completed, students took their ASE exams with a local ASE-approved test proctor (NJGCA can train you to prepare for the ASE exams, but are not permitted to offer the actual exam - students must make these arrangements individually themselves).
Building on that success, we are now seeking student participation in our next training series session. To make arrangements and organize a session, we need to hear from you!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today released two proposed tobacco product standards. The first would ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes (RIN 0910-AI60) and the second (RIN 0910-AI28) would ban all characterizing flavors, including menthol, in cigars. "FDA will issue two proposed tobacco standards," FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said this morning at a congressional subcommittee hearing. "One prohibiting menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes, and another prohibiting characterizing flavors," Califf said. The Office of Management and Budget last week cleared both proposed rules for release.
The $48.9 billion budget proposed by Gov. Phil Murphy for FY23 is the largest budget in our state's history, 41% higher than when he first took office in 2018 and 5.4% higher than FY22. Yet for all that spending - buoyed by federal stimulus, billions in borrowing and overperforming revenues on the backs of increased business taxes - only 0.1% of the budget is allocated for small business relief. . . Gov. Murphy often says - and we wholeheartedly agree - that small business is the lifeblood of New Jersey's economy. When you consider the following factors working against their success, it's clear our job creators need much more support from this budget
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officially issued an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline-gasoline that uses a 15% ethanol blend-to be sold beginning May 1 through the statutory maximum of 20 days, according to a news release. The EPA will continue to monitor the supply with industry and federal partners, and the agency expects to issue new waivers effectively extending the emergency fuel waiver until "the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances due to the war in Ukraine are no longer present." The announcement comes after the Biden Administration said it would temporarily allow high-ethanol content gasoline to be sold during the summer in an effort to curb high gas prices. E15 was originally set to be sold between June 1 and September 15.
NACS General Counsel Doug Kantor is testifying today on behalf of the convenience store industry and the Merchants Payments Coalition, of which NACS is an executive committee member, during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, "Excessive Swipe Fees and Barriers to Competition in the Credit and Debit Card Systems." It is the first time since 2006 that the committee will debate the anticompetitive practices of the credit card industry. During his testimony today, Kantor will underscore the exorbitant swipe fees levied on retailers and how those fees are the direct result of price-fixing by Visa and Mastercard. Through their operating rules, the global networks go even further to insulate the high fees they set from market forces by ensuring retailers have no choice but to accept all of their cards, even those with the highest swipe fees. Ultimately, this broken system acts as an inflation multiplier driving up the price of goods paid by Americans and results in American businesses paying the highest swipe fees in the industrialized world.
Last week, East coast inventories of diesel plunged to the lowest seasonal level since government records started more than 30 years ago. The shortage caused a crisis in the diesel market, sending wholesale and retail diesel prices to an all-time high. Diesel is today more expensive in America that it was in 2008, when the price of crude oil surged to nearly $150 a barrel compared with little more than $100 currently.
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.
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
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