SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board this month fined security company Dunbar Armored, based in Hunt Valley, Md., $36,375 for diesel truck emission violations at numerous locations in the Bay Area and Southern California.

ARB investigators found that Dunbar Armored failed to inspect its diesel truck fleet between 2006-2007 at its Los Angeles, Ontario, San Diego, San Francisco and Cerritos facilities. The law requires annual smoke tests for diesel truck fleets and, in conjunction with ARB’s roadside smoke inspection program, ensures that all vehicles are properly maintained, tamper-free and free from excessive smoke.

“These routine inspections ensure that diesel trucks remain clean," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Companies that break the law will be held accountable and should also carry the burden of putting public health at risk."

Dunbar Armored must comply with the following:

• Guarantee employees attend a mandatory diesel education and technology class within one year:
• Place emission control labels on all heavy-duty vehicles and bring them up to federal emission standards: 
• Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state's idling regulations;
• Revise truck engine software with the latest Low-NOx programming; and, 
• Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are being carried out for the next four years.

ARB will place $27,281.25 into the California Air Pollution Control Fund, used to conduct air pollution research, fund programs to reduce emissions and educate the public on pollution prevention. The Peralta Community College District will receive $4,546.88 to fund diesel education classes, with the remaining $ 4,546.87 to the California Pollution Control Financing Authority.

A decade ago, the ARB listed diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant in order to protect public health. Exposure to unsafe levels of diesel emissions can increase the risk of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. California has aggressively worked to cut diesel emissions by cleaning up diesel fuel, requiring cleaner engines for trucks, buses and off-road equipment, and limiting unnecessary idling.