After the VW-emissions-scandal, a 35-year-old American is now at the centre of the diesel controversy. Because he sold exhaust manipulation devices, he now has to go to prison - as the price for the environmental damage he caused.
"Defeat-device" or "Abschalteinrichtung" - Best known from the Volkswagen diesel scandal of September 2015, such devices have left a lasting impression on the automotive industry. For even today, individuals often try to play with the exhaust system in order to thus not have to comply with emission regulations - or even for the "pleasure" of emitting as much smoke and soot as possible from the tailpipe. In doing so, these so-called coal-rollers would be supported by tuners who manipulate the vehicles for them. Now one of these professional tuners has to go behind bars because he was caught doing just that.
According to the US Department of Justice, the 35-year-old man violated the Clean Air Act with his actions. Through his tuning company, he had sold more than 14,000 technical instruments, mainly built into Ford trucks, which function similarly to the VW defeat device. In this way, the manipulated vehicles were able to achieve improved performance. A performance increase, however, at the expense of the environment, for which the tuner will now pay. For this, the 35-year-old was sentenced to one year in prison by the highest district court judge, as well as to a hefty fine. He will have to pay up to 2.5 million US dollars. As part of the civil penalty, 1.3 million must be transferred to the US environmental protection authorities - and the rest must be paid back to the federal tax authorities.
An offence that is problematic not only because it involves illegal vehicle tampering, but also because it has a negative impact on the environment - in a context where a potentially increasing number of modified cars could have catastrophic effects on the climate and nature. Especially in a world where more and more regulations are being placed on polluting vehicles to reduce their environmental footprint - starting with their driving behaviour and the emissions they produce - such tuning measures are misleading and outdated. The United States, as well as the rest of the world, should keep an eye on all developments in the field of vehicle tuning, as this practice could yet spread and take hold as a strong reaction to the increasing number of internal combustion bans.
It is of enormous importance for the authorities to always keep an eye on the situation and make sure about the type of engine and exhaust - especially when it comes to environmental zones. A tuned car in a low emission zone with access restrictions based on the exact emissions of the vehicles would be extremely harmful to air quality. As well as unfair to all those drivers who drive polluting vehicles and have to deal with driving bans and restrictions more and more often for this very reason.