Genuine Scooters pays $300,000 for illegal sales

Company sold or offered for sale scooters without California vehicle certification

Date

July 12, 2011

Release Number

11-29

Contacts

Gennet Paauwe

Office of Communications

gpaauwe@arb.ca.gov

(916) 322-2990

SACRAMENTO - Today the California Air Resources Board announced that Genuine Scooters was penalized $300,000 for illegally selling or offering for sale motorized scooters without required California vehicle certification.

The full $300,000 penalty will go to the Air Pollution Control Fund for air quality projects and research.

Through a routine inspection in 2008, ARB investigators found that Genuine Scooters, based in Chicago, was selling or offering for sale 2008 model year scooters prior to obtaining the required vehicle certification all manufacturers and importers must complete if conducting business in California.

California clean-air laws require that engines be certified for sale in the state to ensure that emissions and durability standards are met. Engines that donâ€™t meet state standards can emit excess levels of smog-forming emissions.

Genuine Scooters fully cooperated with ARB enforcement officers during the investigation.

CARB'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. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards.