Car dealership to pay ARB $34,750 for installing unapproved retrofits

Release 08-79
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2008

Gennet Paauwe
(916)322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov

Car dealership to pay ARB $34,750 for installing unapproved
retrofits

SACRAMENTO - Shasta Nissan Subaru in Redding, Calif., was fined
$34,750 by the California Air Resources Board last week for
illegally modifying engines from 2004 through 2007 on their
light- and medium-duty vehicles with an aftermarket part before
they were sold.

The part, the Vortex Fuel Maximizer, is intended to improve gas
mileage and performance in cars by changing the flow of air as
it mixes with the gasoline before combustion.

It is illegal in the state of California to perform
modifications on a new car before it is sold without first
getting ARB approval. Modifying car engines can increase harmful
emissions and may lead to the vehicle failing California's smog
test.

"ARB's work over the years to ensure that clean burning cars are
sold in California has helped us reduce smog levels throughout
the state," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "We always require
dealers to consult with us before adding aftermarket parts that
can increase emissions."

Per the terms of the settlement, Shasta Nissan Subaru will pay a
total of $34,750 to the California Air Pollution Control Fund
which provides funding to research and programs intended to
reduce California's carbon footprint. $17,375 was paid at the
time of the settlement, and the remaining $17,375 is due 90 days
later.

California's air quality measures are in place to prevent
excessive emissions of materials that can be harmful to
residents' health. 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.

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.