Posted on 09/14/2022 1:13:17 PM PDT by Trump.Deplorable
A diesel truck owner's battle with the state of New Jersey is leading to the scrapyard. Mike Sebold initially received a letter from the state's Department of Environmental Protection after listing his modified 2008 Ram 2500 on Facebook Marketplace. Officials took issue with the pickup's deleted emissions equipment and, in turn, told Sebold his truck must be returned to stock or taken off the road. But after he decided to turn in his plates and keep it for off-road use, Sebold claims they've forced him to make an appointment with the crusher.
Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET on 09/14/2022: Sebold forwarded screenshots of his email correspondence with the NJ DEP after this article was published. One states that he cannot transfer the truck’s title in any way without returning it to stock. This includes giving it away.
In the other, a department representative explicitly says, “You stated during our conversation that you are unwilling to make repairs to your vehicle. The only other option you have to come into compliance with the NOV and avoid occurring monetary penalties in this matter is to have the truck destroyed at a scrap yard. As I stated in our phone conversation this is not my preferred option as the Department is more interested in having your truck be emissions complaint [sic] than see it destroyed, but nevertheless it’s your property to handle as you see fit.”
The saga started in late July when the New Jersey DEP officially opened correspondence with Sebold. He quickly replied and after a few days of back and forth, he decided against returning the Ram to stock. According to him, it would've cost more than $10,000 to do so, which was more than he felt comfortable spending—especially with the 60-day timeframe the DEP gave him. Sebold says he then de-registered the truck and ran it at a sled pull in Warren County, which convinced him to use it strictly for competition.
It appears that still wasn't enough to satisfy the DEP. Sebold tells me they gave him a deadline of September 25 to add emissions components like the diesel particulate filter back to the truck or have it destroyed. After exhausting seemingly every option to save his pickup without spending thousands on repairs, he elected to comply. At the time of publishing, the truck is set to be crushed Friday, September 16.
A New Jersey DEP agent involved with Sebold's case forwarded me to the department's public information officer. When I asked about the ongoing saga, they replied, "Mr. Sebold has informed the Department that he intends to bring his truck to a scrap yard on Sept. 16 and have it destroyed, although the Department has explained to Mr. Sebold on multiple occasions that the Department would extend the 60-day deadline cited in compliance requirements to give him time to make the necessary repairs to the truck and return it to full New Jersey emissions compliance. These repairs would include returning the vehicle to its original certified emission configuration."
When I asked if Sebold was being forced to crush his Ram despite removing it from the road, the DEP said, "Mr. Sebold has made the decision to scrap his truck, despite DEP offering him other options." But that brings us to the question at the core here—even if the DEP offered to extend the September 25 deadline, is it a choice to destroy a truck when the other option is to spend money you can't spare or don't have to bring it into compliance?
Sebold tells me he's never been visited by a DEP representative in person, only that he believes them to have photos and videos of his truck. This was a key detail for many who claimed government overreach when the state initially contacted Sebold, but New Jersey law is clear about its stance on selling deleted trucks. Simply put, it isn't allowed, and they apparently don't have to see it in person if the seller admits to such modifications in the vehicle's listing.
It won't be over until the truck is crushed or the New Jersey DEP changes its mind and allows Sebold to keep it in one piece. Either way, this won't be the last time we see deleted truck owners duking it out with state governments.
“Yep. He could trailer it to Florida and, even if he sold it for a fire-sale price, he’d still be making more than letting the State crush it.”
Not an option.
If it’s one of those annoying idiots who turns their truck into a “rolling coal” truck (with thick black diesel smoke) then I can understand New Jersey saying to destroy it or get it out of their state.
These people are idiots.
“Put it on a trailer, take it out of state, sell. 3 easy steps.”
Read the article. One easy step.
“Seems to me like NJ can’t do crap if he just takes it across the border and sells it in another state.”
Yes, they can!
He has already violated state law and they are not charging him for that. If he doesn’t comply with directive he is facing fines and jail.
“Off road beaters called hunting cars ..... Now banned by NJ Guvern-mint retards. Konstipated killjoys trying to spoil all the fun there is in life. Spit!
What a rip off!”
Where did you get that baseless rant?
I have two Dodge trucks, a 1997 and a 2001. Both take gasoline and both still run like tops. Only the plastic parts are shattering. And I DO mean SHATTERING!
Adding catalytic converter to older car increases power.
What state isn’t going to inspect the emissions equipment to license it there? That’s a non-starter.
Why would he remove the emissions equipment in the first place?
He should probably remove the engine and sell the rest of it as parts.
You sound like you don’t know enough about this issue to comment.
“Nashville and the surrounding counties stopped emission testing in the last year. EPA approved, the air quality in Nashville has improved.”
Since the emission equipment on the cars on the road hardly changed that can’t be the reason.
fixed.
Of course, if he transports it out of state, it will be, “FBI! Open up! We want the whereabouts of your truck! There’s room for it in our warehouse next to Mike Lindell’s smartphone and Hunter Biden’s laptop!”
Examples:
"hesadthis"
hesaidthis
Or sell it to a person in a state that doesn’t require emissions testing for on-road use.
There was an article on FR awhile ago about the IRS going to college campuses and recruiting, and running some mock actions.
The one they showed was taking down a small business owner by physical force.
The business owner wanted to sell his business and in the online ad talked about how it included two service vehicles. There was some issue with the values that he reported to the IRS regarding the vehicles with what he was quoting on his advertisement!
I can undertstand the state refusing to allow the sale (well not understand it, but understand that they are the power to title, so they could refuse the title transfer)... but I don’t understand for one second how if you own something and unregister it... turn its tags, so you can’t use it on the roads, how the hell the state can force you to do anything with that vehicle in terms of how it operates?
To meet road worthiness standards to be licensed sure, but if I go buy a beat up truck and its catalytic converter clogs or rusts out, telling me I can’t run it as a farm truck on my private property?
By what authority does the state have over this? My truck, my property, requires no license or even registration since I am not on the road... so business does the state have in this? How can the possibly tell someone put exhaust equipment required for road worthiness on your vehicle to use it in any way shape or form?
“Nashville and the surrounding counties stopped emission testing in the last year. EPA approved, the air quality in Nashville has improved.”
Nashville not in an I/M resting required area.
“Or sell it to a person in a state that doesn’t require emissions testing for on-road use.”
Not an option.
“Does this mean vehicle emissions testing is gone for good in Davidson County?
Not necessarily.
According to provisions in state law, if Davidson County becomes noncompliant with Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards, the EPA could mandate the county institute an emissions program again in the future.
But local health department officials say emissions testing controls just 2% of the county’s total emissions of pollutant Nitrogen Oxide.
“Our feeling is that if we do slide into non-attainment, it won’t be because we don’t have vehicle emissions testing,” Metro Health Department Policy Director Tom Sharp said. “We’ll have other things that we’ll need to address.”
” I don’t understand for one second how if you own something and unregister it... turn its tags, so you can’t use it on the roads, how the hell the state can force you to do anything with that vehicle in terms of how it operates?”
More to the story. He illegally (Fed and state) removed emission equipment on a vehicle registered for the road.
He illegally advertised the said vehicle for sale.
Most likely he was trying to dump it due to upcoming inspection requirement.
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