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Bikes did not comply with clean air regulations. 

Release 08-61
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2008
	  	  	
Dimitri Stanich
(916)716-8047
(916)322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov

Baja Motorsports fined $14,000 for missing emission labels

Mini bikes sold at Kragen Auto Parts did not display California
certification

SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board last month
penalized Baja Motorsports, an importer of off-road recreational
vehicles from China, based in Tempe, Ariz., $14,000 for
improperly labeling their Blitz mini-bikes without California
emission certification labels.

ARB enforcement officers discovered the mini-bikes were missing
California engine emission certification labels on bikes sold at
Kragen Auto Parts stores statewide.

Although the bikes are within California emission standards,
they were improperly labeled as being only federally certified.
In California, it is necessary for vehicles to display
additional certification compliance statements to ensure that
the state's clean emission standards are also met.

"It's very important that manufacturers affix California's air
'seal of approval' so consumers can know what machines pass our
strict emission standards and which don't," said ARB Chairman
Mary Nichols. "Baja Motorsports had done the hard part by
meeting our standards but failed to let the buyers know, which
is just as important."

All new vehicles sold in the state must possess a California
emissions label, in addition to a federal emissions label. The
fine for not displaying the certification is $50 per vehicle,
but for large retailers the penalty can add up quickly due to
their large inventories. All vehicles must display this
certification, including off-road recreational vehicles like the
2.8 horsepower Blitz mini-bike.

Baja Motorsports has since corrected the problem and ordered and
applied labels to the mini-bikes in question.

Per the terms of the settlement, the company will pay $14,000 in
penalties; all of it will go to the California Air Pollution
Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research
to improve California's air quality.

Ozone, also known as urban smog, 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.

More information on California's engine emission certification
procedures is available online:

    * http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/offroad/cert/cert.php for
off-road vehicles; and,
    * http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onroad/cert/cert.php 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 energy challenge facing California is real. Every
Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy
consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and
cut your energy cost, see our web site at http://www.arb.ca.gov


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