Mine:
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.
But it's been a few years since I've seen or heard about the brown haze hanging over Nashville.
But as the Tennessean article I just posted pointed out. Vehicle emissions is only 2%.
There was a municipal waste to thermal burning plant downtown from 1974 to 2004. I wonder how much pollution that thing put out.
“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.”
Yes. If air quality degrades to the point that they fall under I/M rules. As long as air quality remains good EPA has no authority to mandate testing.
“But as the Tennessean article I just posted pointed out. Vehicle emissions is only 2%.”
Only 2% and unchanged in the past months. So whatever you are seeing it had nothing to do with ending emissions testing.
You gave the impression it was a factory truck without a particulate filter.
EV Boy/clown continue
“EV Boy/clown continue”
You ducked the question.
“You gave the impression it was a factory truck without a particulate filter.”
I don’t follow you. What did I say that you are referring to?
What is a factory truck?
I made no reference to a particulate filter that i can recall.
You forget the EPA moves goalposts.
“You forget the EPA moves goalposts.”
You might find this interesting:
You take this FR sht too serious. I own an ICE Honda an so what.
Honda perfected ICE... Agreed?
“You take this FR **** too serious. I own an ICE Honda an so what.”
Answer the question and stop trying to hijack the thread.
Honda improved it. Toyota "perfected" it.
Yikes!
That has horrifying potential. MK Ultra on steroids...
Mine:
Don't know anything about diesel emissions equipment, but on gas engines a tremendous amount of that stuff robs power, breaks quickly, is largely irrelevant, and in many cases, the failure modes cause more pollution.
For example, the ludicrous vapor recovery systems clog, causing the tank to actually spit gas back out when fueling. So instead of capturing vapors it actually causes fuel spills.
A lot of the progress in cleaner air came from o2 driven fuel injection. But the unhinged smog nazis do not understand cost/benefit or what happens five minutes after the car leaves the dealer.
Bunk! Honda perfected the ICE while Toyota fags put out all efforts and money into Prius. My brother in law has bought Prius. I told him this is a totally new Toyota independent division w the best engineers that Toyota would poach, that Toy would not mind taking losses on.
Guess what/ 70% of his Prius miles are on the highway. IOW ICE on a 95 HP motor..... lol another hybrid fake out!
The EPA dropped the requirement because our air improved.
I don’t know why the air improved. But I’ve noticed it has.
In any event the vehicle emissions are only 2%, so were never going to have much impact.
NICE! — You passed the fog lights test. iow equipped NOT stripped. If I were a woman the first thing I would check out would be the fog lights. Does he have then? If not then FO.
No I get that, but once he said, screw it I am not going to sell it.. I’m going to just keep it as an off road, how the hell can they force him to crush it? That’s where I get lost in this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.