On Saturday July 21, NorCal Resist and the Sacramento branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation collaborated at the Sac PSL office to host our second joint Free Brake Light Repair Clinic. We were able to help the Meadowview community repair the brake, signal, and headlights of 20 vehicles. Our previous collaboration successfully repaired 15 vehicles on June 2nd. The consequences of having non-functioning lights is the reason for groups like NorCal Resist, our party, and others; to step in and offer this form of aid.
Reducing the chances of police interacting with the community helps to protect the well being of all of us. No one enjoys being pulled over, not knowing the temperament of the armed cop who is now in control of you. Often, a busted tail light (or headlight) is the probable cause for this stressful encounter. It can easily lead to a vehicle being impounded, a person being detained, or worse. A fix-it ticket requires a person to repair the light, seek out a police officer to verify that the repair has been made, and only then can the ticket be paid. If the ticket isn’t paid, regardless of whether or not the repair has been made, another -larger- fine can be slapped onto someone.
While our friends provided the money and volunteers to purchase parts, the PSL also lent volunteers and hosted a barbecue to feed passers by and people getting their vehicles repaired.
Basic tips for hosting a brake light clinic
First, light bulbs cost money; fundraising is a crucial aspect of this task. About $200 can service roughly 20 cars. Money can be raised by publicly soliciting for donations to a crowdfunding website as well as contacting friendly organizations, unions and religious groups for donations,
The average car may cost $10 and a little bit of time to fix, but that is certainly not the rule. Different makes, models and vehicle conditions call for different kinds of bulbs or repairs. Headlights are slightly more expensive but nonetheless need to be fixed if they are out. Hi-Beam bulbs on the other hand are comparatively far more expensive and are less of a priority.
Second, at least one volunteer should have some automotive knowledge. A friend who is a mechanic is now your best friend! But typically, rear lights are very simple to repair. Headlights can be a bit more tricky, but a volunteer with a little bit of coaching can change a bulb without issue. After diagnosing which light bulbs need to be fixed, do not hesitate to ask the owner if they have the manual for their vehicle with them. The internet and your mechanic friend are also a great resources for more complicated fixes. If someone needs their brake fluid topped off, do it.
Diagnosing which lights need to be fixed is as simple as asking the owner to press their brakes, turn their headlights on, do signal checks, and check the back-up lights when the vehicle is put into reverse.
Not every volunteer has to work on cars. There is other important work to do to make the event successful. Some people will be needed who can go back and forth between the event location and the auto parts store to purchase additional parts. Other volunteers can hold signs advertising the Brake Light Clinic along the street. Volunteers can help promote the event online and in public by postering or flyering. The more people know about it, the more lights can be fixed! It’s always good to have refreshments and snacks so a few volunteers can help with that too.
Third, the location is as important as anything else. Fortunately, Sacramento PSL has an office in an area of Meadowview with plenty of parking. Our office is also very close to three different auto parts stores. Thus NorCal Resist contacted us about helping to host these clinics. Access to restrooms and shade/shelter are also important considerations. Organizational offices are not a prerequisite; any place with parking and amenities can be used. Considering the weather in our region, starting at 9 am and working for 4 or 5 hours helped to prevent heat exhaustion.
Last, basic equipment needed includes: metric and standard sockets and wrenches, flat and phillips screwdrivers, screwdriver tips like Torx and Hex, an assortment of pliers, a knife, water and food, shade and seating and an OBD-II scanner if a person has a check engine light. If anything, the scanner can get the engine codes to help let the person know what is wrong with their car if you cannot fix it. Transparent all-weather red tape is also useful for covering the broken red plastic which is another cause for pullovers. If the auto parts store offers a discount membership program that costs nothing, take advantage of it.
It is important to remember that these clinics are not doing major repairs and no one should feel obligated to fix a stereo or replace cosmetic parts. It does not matter if the person seems like they can afford to get their lights fixed or not because the point is to prevent them from getting pulled over and it is easy to forget that you have a bad light even if you can afford to get it fixed.
Helping to prevent working class people from being pulled over is an important way we can protect our class, especially undocumented and nationally oppressed class siblings. Alongside the direct benefit to the community, the indirect benefit of building solidarity helps to build the agency of the people in the very communities we work in every day.
If you are interested in donating to Sacramento efforts, please follow this link.
