North Carolina Shop Fined $10M For Selling Diesel Emissions Defeat Devices
Background
A performance shop in North Carolina has recently agreed to pay $10 million in criminal fines and civil penalties for manufacturing, selling, and installing devices designed to remove or disable emissions control systems on diesel vehicles. This shop, known as Rudy Performance Parts, and its owner Aaron Rudolf, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act. As part of the criminal case, they will be fined $2.4 million and forced to complete a three-year period of organizational probation.
The Violations
- Rudy Performance Parts sold over 250,000 products to remove or disable emissions control systems.
- The company had sold software devices and offered mechanical modifications to customers.
- Prosecutors say it generated $33 million in revenue while violating the Clean Air Act.
The Consequences
Prosecutors discovered that Rudy Performance Parts had tampered with monitoring devices on approximately 300 diesel trucks. As a result, the shop and its owner were hit with a $600,000 criminal fine. Additionally, a separate civil suit filed by the U.S. Justice Department on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that the shop had been selling defeat devices to pickup truck owners. These devices, known as the Mini Maxx and XRT Pro, were used to tamper with the ODB systems of trucks.
Imitation Devices
After the manufacturer of the Mini Maxx and XRT Pro devices ceased production, Rudy Performance Parts conspired with others to create imitation devices. They employed a software technician to convert existing tuners into imitation defeat devices. Later on, the shop started manufacturing these imitation tuners in-house. From December 2016 to July 2018, the shop is said to have sold approximately 43,900 imitation tuners, generating $33 million in revenue.
Environmental Impact
The civil lawsuit claims that from at least 2014 through mid-2019, Rudy Performance Parts and its owner manufactured and sold over 250,000 products to remove or disable emissions controls. These products included software-based devices, plates to block a truck’s exhaust gas recirculation system, and pipes to replace pollution treatment components in the exhaust system. The EPA estimates that the number of products sold by the shop contributed to over 1 million vehicles’ worth of pollution on America’s roads.
Conclusion
The case against Rudy Performance Parts and its owner serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to emissions control regulations. The hefty fines and penalties imposed on the shop highlight the serious consequences of violating the Clean Air Act. It is crucial for businesses and individuals to prioritize environmental responsibility and comply with laws aimed at reducing pollution.
