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SACRAMENTO – LKQ Corporation, a Chicago-based provider of
alternative and specialty automotive parts, has agreed to pay a $294,000
penalty for selling illegal, used diesel particulate (soot) filters, violating
California’s Aftermarket Parts and Diesel Particulate Filter Verification Regulations.
It is illegal to sell or install a used diesel soot filter
for use in heavy-duty trucks in California.
It is also illegal for a business to install one of these filters
without being authorized by the filter manufacturer.
In a
related case in 2017, West Coast
Diesel, a Fresno repair shop caught selling and installing illegal
parts, agreed to a settlement
that included additional monetary penalties should they violate the terms of
the agreement by installing even one diesel particulate filter. Several other
Central Valley diesel repair shops are now under investigation for selling and
installing illegal filters.
“The sales of illegal diesel particulate filters in
California needs to stop, and I hope the actions announced today demonstrate
the seriousness of these violations,” said CARB Enforcement Chief Todd
Sax. “These companies sold cheap,
illegal filters, harvested from other vehicles, to unsuspecting truckers.”
Diesel filters in trucks trap soot that causes cancer, and
so they are very important to protecting public health. California law requires truck owners to keep
their diesel particulate filters in working order, and to replace the filter if
it is damaged and not working properly.
Only CARB -certified filters may be sold, installed, or operated in
California. Using an uncertified or
improperly installed filter can damage an engine and expose those around the
truck to toxic diesel soot.
Today’s announcement sends a critical message to business
owners as well as consumers that CARB is actively enforcing the state’s
landmark Truck and Bus Regulation, which requires truck owners to clean up
their fleets by installing 2010 or newer engines by 2023, as well as its
regulations governing the use and sale of diesel filters.
“Truckers need to understand the compliance process and take
responsibility for properly maintaining their vehicles, including their soot
filters,” said Sax. “We encourage
truckers to check our CARB Truckstop
website for information. Truckers can
also call us at 1 866 6DIESEL and we will explain the requirements and what
needs to be done.”
Sax also stressed that truckers need to take responsibility
when it comes to choosing a repair shop for vehicle maintenance. These shops should be selling new, CARB-authorized
filters, and their personnel should be properly trained by the filter
manufacturer on the installation process.
“Truckers should make sure that when installing or replacing
their diesel particulate filter that a CARB-approved device is being used,”
said Sax. “When shopping for a filter,
remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Sax also noted that it may be more cost-effective to buy a
newer truck, since putting on a filter only ensures compliance for a couple of
years at best, according to the Truck
and Bus regulation phase-in schedule. Truckers can call CARB to find out if they
might be eligible for loans or other financial incentives to help purchase new
or newer equipment.
To settle its case and avoid legal action, LKQ agreed to pay
$294,000 to the Air Pollution Control Fund to support air pollution research
and education. In addition, the company
updated its website and is no longer selling or advertising used filters for
the California market.
Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and more
than 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. In 1998, California identified
diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to
cause cancer, premature death and other health problems.
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