SACRAMENTO – The Air Resources Board settled several enforcement actions with Pep Boys Auto for $170,000 last month for selling non-compliant vehicles and generators.

In California, all new on-road and off-road vehicles and engines sold or offered for sale must be certified to meet strict emissions standards.  The Philadelphia, PA based Pep Boys offered for sale and sold several motorized scooters, generators, and one all-terrain vehicle that did not carry the correct certification.

“California businesses that don’t abide by the law unfairly undermine their competitors by creating an unlevel playing field,” said ARB Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden.  “The Air Resources Board enforcement team works exceptionally hard to uncover non-compliant products before they are sold and begin producing excessive emissions of health-threatening pollutants.”

In California, it is required for vehicles and equipment to display appropriate emission control labels that certify compliance with the State’s vehicle/engine emission standards.  In these cases, the manufacturers of the motorized scooters had applied for the appropriate certification, but Pep Boys made these products available for sale (and sold several units) prior to final authorization. 

Unlike the scooters, the generators in question had never applied for certification, did not meet California’s emissions standards, and were illegal for sale in the state.

Ozone, or urban smog, a by-product of the excess hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen emitted from non-compliant models, can affect human health in many ways including: itchy, watery eyes, scratchy throat, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughs, heightened asthma rates, cardiopulmonary cases and premature deaths.

The settlement dollars will be deposited into the California Air Pollution Control Fund and used to advance projects and research to improve California’s air quality.

More information on California’s engine emission certification procedures is available online:
•   for off-road vehicles; and,
•   for on-road vehicles.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency.  ARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy.  The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency.  ARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy.  The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.