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Thursday, December 6, 2012
T F Stern's Rantings: Texas Unlicensed Locksmiths Arrested
T F Stern's Rantings: Texas Unlicensed Locksmiths Arrested: I got my June issue of The National Locksmith and read Marc Goldberg’s article which starts off, “The state of Texas has just begun a major ...
T F Stern's Rantings: Presumption of Guilt
T F Stern's Rantings: Presumption of Guilt: It used to be that you were presumed innocent until proven guilty; at least that’s the way it was for most of my life. Apparently tha...
T F Stern's Rantings: Business Licenses - Jump for Joy
T F Stern's Rantings: Business Licenses - Jump for Joy: I have to give a tip of the hat to Unrepentant Individual’s blog on licensing . His article reminded me of a letter I sent to the Texas Pr...
T F Stern's Rantings: Texas Locksmith License Requirements
T F Stern's Rantings: Texas Locksmith License Requirements: Here’s a copy of a letter I sent off to the DPS/PSB which will decide whether or not I remain a card carrying licensed locksmith when it com...
T F Stern's Rantings: DPS/PSB Locksmiths License – Follow up
T F Stern's Rantings: DPS/PSB Locksmiths License – Follow up: June 15, 2007 Representative Debbie Riddle
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Purple Heart Recipient Locked Out of Profession by Locksmith Licensing Law
By Barry Campbell, Managing Director SOPL
Kerrville Texas, Kerr County Texas 2012 -
Texas locksmith, Elvis Hernandez, had been working as a locksmith for about 10 years before being deployed to the Middle East to serve a 4-year stint in the Iraq War. This U.S. Army combat veteran, who had been awarded the ultimate symbol of sacrifice - a Purple Heart and an Honorable Discharge, returned home to the challenge of rebuilding his business and serving his community.
Mr. Hernandez has the additional challenge of being a single father, but he also has the support of many others in the locksmithing community in the San Antonio area, recently being named to the Board of the San Antonio Locksmith Association and having a positive employment history with IDN Acme, a locksmith distributor.
Given his military service and the respect and praise given him by his friends, former employers, and co-workers; it is no surprise that Elvis Hernandez has a strong sense of civic duty. But it is equally a shame that his sense of compassion and concern for others has led to him being barred from practicing as a professional locksmith.
Late this last spring, on the way to a job, he saw a small dog wandering loose on a highway where speeding cars were passing. He stopped to rescue the dog, which had no collar, leash, or identification and at risk of becoming roadkill.
He asked his customer if they knew who the owner of the dog was. When the job was completed, he left his contact information with the customer who lived in the area in case the owner came looking for the dog. Mr. Hernandez cared for the dog briefly, but had to give the dog to a relative because the lost dog did not get along with a dog he already owned. That was not permanent either, but at least the dog was not left to roam along a highway in harms way.
Months later, Mr. Hernandez received a call from the customer, who had eventually heard from the alleged owner of the dog. At this point, Mr. Hernandez was no longer aware of the location of the stray dog he had rescued. Subsequently, he was contacted by the owners of a lost dog, then by the Kerr County Sheriff. The now-irate owner has decided to press property theft charges against Hernandez, who has since been arrested on the misdemeanor charge and had to be fingerprinted, have a mug shot taken, and spend over 24 hours in jail, before being released on bond, pending trial.
The whole story sounds ridiculous enough at this point – a negligent owner charging a good Samaritan with theft of their dog without any evidence that the rescued dog was, in fact, their lost dog; and the arrest and pending prosecution for property theft, months after the fact, of someone who left their contact information in the hope of reuniting the owner with their dog. Thieves don't do that!
But things have become much worse for Mr. Hernandez. Nothing less than a tragedy, he has been barred from practicing his chosen profession. Because he has been charged with a crime, his locksmith license has been summarily suspended by the State of Texas Department of Public Safety. His business has been effectively shut down.
His friends in the locksmith community are barred from employing his skills as a locksmith. The damage being done to Mr. Hernandez's reputation is not the result of the actions of a negligent dog owner; it is not the result of what has every characteristic of overzealous law enforcement and malicious prosecution; it is purely and simply the result of the locksmith licensing law.
What would have been a bump in the road of his life has become a complete roadblock. Even if the charges are dropped or he is acquitted, it could easily take months for him to regain his license, under the locksmith licensing law.
As bad as the other circumstances have been, the effects of the locksmith licensing law has been devastating. He could run for Mayor, Governor, or even President of the United States, but he can't work as a locksmith simply because of the locksmith licensing law.
Those who have supported such laws should be ashamed at their results. Supposedly, these laws were enacted to put scammers out of business, but how many of them have been prosecuted under the locksmith licensing laws? As he served our country, Mr. Hernandez probably felt that he was supporting certain ideals, such as innocent until proven guilty. Little did he know that he would be presumed guilty until proven innocent by laws purporting to protect the industry he worked in.
Ironically, Mr. Hernandez said that he supported the initial efforts to license locksmiths in Texas, though he felt that the moneyed interests supporting licensing laws created a system far different than what the local locksmiths had envisioned.
This should serve as a warning to those who think there is any merit to government interference and regulation of the industry. It is reprehensible and inexcusable that a decorated war veteran should become a victim, collateral damage, in the supposed war against locksmith scammers.
See Purple Heart Recipient Victimized by Locksmith Licensing Law
Kerrville Texas, Kerr County Texas 2012 -
Texas locksmith, Elvis Hernandez, had been working as a locksmith for about 10 years before being deployed to the Middle East to serve a 4-year stint in the Iraq War. This U.S. Army combat veteran, who had been awarded the ultimate symbol of sacrifice - a Purple Heart and an Honorable Discharge, returned home to the challenge of rebuilding his business and serving his community.
Mr. Hernandez has the additional challenge of being a single father, but he also has the support of many others in the locksmithing community in the San Antonio area, recently being named to the Board of the San Antonio Locksmith Association and having a positive employment history with IDN Acme, a locksmith distributor.
Given his military service and the respect and praise given him by his friends, former employers, and co-workers; it is no surprise that Elvis Hernandez has a strong sense of civic duty. But it is equally a shame that his sense of compassion and concern for others has led to him being barred from practicing as a professional locksmith.
Late this last spring, on the way to a job, he saw a small dog wandering loose on a highway where speeding cars were passing. He stopped to rescue the dog, which had no collar, leash, or identification and at risk of becoming roadkill.
He asked his customer if they knew who the owner of the dog was. When the job was completed, he left his contact information with the customer who lived in the area in case the owner came looking for the dog. Mr. Hernandez cared for the dog briefly, but had to give the dog to a relative because the lost dog did not get along with a dog he already owned. That was not permanent either, but at least the dog was not left to roam along a highway in harms way.
Months later, Mr. Hernandez received a call from the customer, who had eventually heard from the alleged owner of the dog. At this point, Mr. Hernandez was no longer aware of the location of the stray dog he had rescued. Subsequently, he was contacted by the owners of a lost dog, then by the Kerr County Sheriff. The now-irate owner has decided to press property theft charges against Hernandez, who has since been arrested on the misdemeanor charge and had to be fingerprinted, have a mug shot taken, and spend over 24 hours in jail, before being released on bond, pending trial.
The whole story sounds ridiculous enough at this point – a negligent owner charging a good Samaritan with theft of their dog without any evidence that the rescued dog was, in fact, their lost dog; and the arrest and pending prosecution for property theft, months after the fact, of someone who left their contact information in the hope of reuniting the owner with their dog. Thieves don't do that!
But things have become much worse for Mr. Hernandez. Nothing less than a tragedy, he has been barred from practicing his chosen profession. Because he has been charged with a crime, his locksmith license has been summarily suspended by the State of Texas Department of Public Safety. His business has been effectively shut down.
His friends in the locksmith community are barred from employing his skills as a locksmith. The damage being done to Mr. Hernandez's reputation is not the result of the actions of a negligent dog owner; it is not the result of what has every characteristic of overzealous law enforcement and malicious prosecution; it is purely and simply the result of the locksmith licensing law.
What would have been a bump in the road of his life has become a complete roadblock. Even if the charges are dropped or he is acquitted, it could easily take months for him to regain his license, under the locksmith licensing law.
As bad as the other circumstances have been, the effects of the locksmith licensing law has been devastating. He could run for Mayor, Governor, or even President of the United States, but he can't work as a locksmith simply because of the locksmith licensing law.
Those who have supported such laws should be ashamed at their results. Supposedly, these laws were enacted to put scammers out of business, but how many of them have been prosecuted under the locksmith licensing laws? As he served our country, Mr. Hernandez probably felt that he was supporting certain ideals, such as innocent until proven guilty. Little did he know that he would be presumed guilty until proven innocent by laws purporting to protect the industry he worked in.
Ironically, Mr. Hernandez said that he supported the initial efforts to license locksmiths in Texas, though he felt that the moneyed interests supporting licensing laws created a system far different than what the local locksmiths had envisioned.
This should serve as a warning to those who think there is any merit to government interference and regulation of the industry. It is reprehensible and inexcusable that a decorated war veteran should become a victim, collateral damage, in the supposed war against locksmith scammers.
See Purple Heart Recipient Victimized by Locksmith Licensing Law
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
When a lock problem is not a lock problem
There are things that can interfere with the correct operation of a lock that have nothing to do with the lock itself. A couple of the most common are poorly cut duplicate keys and sagging doors.
Duplicate Keys : Hardware store key duplication machines are often not adjusted correctly. A few thousandths of an inch can make the difference whether a key will work or not. It is difficult for a customer to tell if the depth of cut is correct without using a micrometer to compare an original to a duplicate key. However, it is often very easy to detect improper spacing on a duplicate key. If a key won't turn when fully inserted into the lock, but will turn if the key is pulled out slightly, you have a miscut key - the spacing is off. But the quickest way to detect a spacing error is to look at the tip of the key. The ramp at the tip end of the key should be smooth. If it looks like a small notch is cut into the key on that front ramp section, it is likely the spacing is off.
.jpg)
If you look closely at the key in the picture on the left, you will see a small notch cut into the angled ramp section at the tip of the key - a good sign that the key duplicating machine is not properly adjusted, and that the key will not work properly, if at all. This is a very, very common problem.
And, yes, we have had a couple customers call us back after we have serviced a lock, claiming the lock was no longer working. Sure enough, they'll hand us a key duplicated at a local hardware, like the one in the photo. Better to pay us for all the copies of the keys you need when we service the lock than to pay us for a second service call when your hardware store copies don't work!
Sagging Doors : Many times, what seems like a lock problem is actually a door problem. A new lock will not fix a door problem, at least not permanently. First, make sure all hinge screws have been installed. Most hinges are designed to be installed with four screws fastening the hinge to the door and four screws fastening the hinge to the jamb. It's amazing how many times we have found hinges installed with as few as two screws on each side, even in newly constructed homes. Second, remove a couple screws from the hinge side. They should be at least 1-1/2 inches long, preferably 3 inches to secure the hinge to the wall framing surrounding the door opening. Don't be surprised, though, if you find 3/4 inch screws. Replace these with longer screws, and make sure all screws are tight. You'll often find that the short screws have stripped the wood and will continue to turn without tightening. Inadequate hinge installation allows the door to sag, and the locks will no longer be aligned correctly with the strikes. Also, look at the gap between the door and the jamb on all sides. The gap should be consistent, not wider at the top than at the bottom. A proper gap is approximately 1/8 inch on all sides.
.jpg)
Take a look at the strike in the photograph on the right. You can see the wear from the latch is very near the bottom of the strike opening. The quick fix would be to move the strike lower on the jamb so that it better aligns with the lock. But if the actual cause of the problem is a sagging door, the problem will repeat in time. Secure the door hinges first. Adjust the strike location only if it is still out of alignment.
Altic Lock Service recommends installing the Door Devil reinforcement kit on all doors. Part of the kit includes the longer hinge attachment screws to tie the hinges into the wall framing. This, alone, will often correct strike alignment problems.
Remember that most locksmiths can address most door hardware issues, not just locks; but also keep in mind that not all lock problems are caused by the lock!
Duplicate Keys : Hardware store key duplication machines are often not adjusted correctly. A few thousandths of an inch can make the difference whether a key will work or not. It is difficult for a customer to tell if the depth of cut is correct without using a micrometer to compare an original to a duplicate key. However, it is often very easy to detect improper spacing on a duplicate key. If a key won't turn when fully inserted into the lock, but will turn if the key is pulled out slightly, you have a miscut key - the spacing is off. But the quickest way to detect a spacing error is to look at the tip of the key. The ramp at the tip end of the key should be smooth. If it looks like a small notch is cut into the key on that front ramp section, it is likely the spacing is off.
.jpg)
If you look closely at the key in the picture on the left, you will see a small notch cut into the angled ramp section at the tip of the key - a good sign that the key duplicating machine is not properly adjusted, and that the key will not work properly, if at all. This is a very, very common problem.
And, yes, we have had a couple customers call us back after we have serviced a lock, claiming the lock was no longer working. Sure enough, they'll hand us a key duplicated at a local hardware, like the one in the photo. Better to pay us for all the copies of the keys you need when we service the lock than to pay us for a second service call when your hardware store copies don't work!
Sagging Doors : Many times, what seems like a lock problem is actually a door problem. A new lock will not fix a door problem, at least not permanently. First, make sure all hinge screws have been installed. Most hinges are designed to be installed with four screws fastening the hinge to the door and four screws fastening the hinge to the jamb. It's amazing how many times we have found hinges installed with as few as two screws on each side, even in newly constructed homes. Second, remove a couple screws from the hinge side. They should be at least 1-1/2 inches long, preferably 3 inches to secure the hinge to the wall framing surrounding the door opening. Don't be surprised, though, if you find 3/4 inch screws. Replace these with longer screws, and make sure all screws are tight. You'll often find that the short screws have stripped the wood and will continue to turn without tightening. Inadequate hinge installation allows the door to sag, and the locks will no longer be aligned correctly with the strikes. Also, look at the gap between the door and the jamb on all sides. The gap should be consistent, not wider at the top than at the bottom. A proper gap is approximately 1/8 inch on all sides.
.jpg)
Altic Lock Service recommends installing the Door Devil reinforcement kit on all doors. Part of the kit includes the longer hinge attachment screws to tie the hinges into the wall framing. This, alone, will often correct strike alignment problems.
Remember that most locksmiths can address most door hardware issues, not just locks; but also keep in mind that not all lock problems are caused by the lock!
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