Sunrise Guy
Addicted to ArboristSite
Regulation is a good thing if it is applied fairly and with high, enforceable penalties. Here in Texas the tattoo industry was unregulated when I first got into it. Later, a legislator from a very conservative district discovered that, and took steps to change it. The problem is that once the legislation was in effect, and regulations as well, funding was very low for enforcement, and the whole thing became a joke. My shop was inspected three times in ten years! The inspectors were kids just out of college and they moved on as soon as another opportunity came along. In fact, the health department itself was reorganized a few times and the tattoo regulatory department changed hands several times to the point where nobody knew what he/she was doing. A few years ago, the legislature even passed a law that each tattooist and piercer needed to be licensed (in addition to each shop), failed to fund that program and that forced the health department, literally, to send out a notice saying, "Nevermind!"
The point here is that regulations for our industry, and here I'm refering to urban arboriculture, would be a tough sell, as far as enforcement. I know you need licensing in some towns, but I'm reasonably sure that inspectors in those programs probably have better things to do then roam the streets looking for hacks with chainsaws, dropping trees for $100 cash. In larger cities, it would be so hit or miss when it came to catching violators that the program would be a joke as it was in my old industry. Remember, a program gets funded if the public demands it. As long as the public can save some $$$ with the hacks, they're happy. If a tragedy occurs, there might be an outcry and a subsequent push for regulatory legislation, but the public has a short memory, and very soon it's business as usual.
Another point: The big boys, Asplundh, Davey, et al, have sweetheart contracts all over the USA. They're in bed with local and national politicians, no doubt about it. You can bet that any regulations passed would give them an even greater competitive advantage than they now have. When it comes to their prices: In tight markets, they can always cruise and still put their $5000/mo. ads in the Yellow Pages because in other markets they keep very busy with commercial work. It's frustrating, I know.
Ultimately and unfortunately, it all comes down to what I posted earlier: If you are constantly underbid in your market, you either drop your prices thus lowering your living standards over the long-run, or get into another line of work. It really is that simple.
