Feds raid S.C. home to seize Land Rover in EPA emission-control crackdown

The Washington Times ^ | August 1, 2014 | Cheryl K. Chumley

[null and void]

When it comes to environmental regulation compliance, the Department of Homeland Security isn’t playing — as evidenced by a recent federal raid of a South Carolinian’s home to confiscate a Land Rover that violated EPA emission rules.

Jennifer Brinkley said she saw a line of law enforcement vehicles approaching her home and wondered what was wrong, the local WBTV reported. Homeland Security agents then went to her 1985 Land Rover Defender and lifted the hood.

“They popped up the hood and looked at the Vehicle Identification Number and compared it with a piece of paper and then took the car with them,” she said, WBTV reported.

...

Ms. Brinkley said on Fox News that she had spent considerable money ensuring her vehicle would pass inspection laws and that it was in compliance with emission rules.

[Fresh Wind]

Thanks for that link.

And linked through the Jalopnik site is this very interesting 2013 piece from Car & Driver, including a screen capture from an eBay sale ad for an LR said to be a 1987, but was described as a model that wasn’t actually marketed until 2003:

http://blog.caranddriver.com/exclusive-feds-declare-war-on-black-market-land-rover-defenders/

[Fresh Wind]

The EPA had nothing directly to do with this. The action was taken by what used to be the US Customs Service when it was under the Treasury Department, but is now part of DHS as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

I’m not defending their tactics, though it does appear that they were acting under a court order, and I certainly don’t endorse the regulations that are the basis for this.

But it appears that the exporters/importers of these vehicles are engaged in fraud, and possibly dealing in the sale of stolen goods, which is a far more serious offense than violating an emissions control regulation.

[SpeakerToAnimals]

I took a closer look. Several did not penetrate the outer skin. Some did go through. The early versions of that series Tacoma had flimsy tailgates. A number of them folded when rolling motorcycles up a ramp into the truck. They had a TSB listing a new, stronger tailgate.

The added x bracing may be what stopped the projectiles.

[bamahead]

I am completely speechless.



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[GregNH]

I own a 1965 Chevy pick up that me and my son are working together to restore, he rode in this truck on his very first fishing trip and many substantial ones. He really wants to see this truck road worthy again. I am now rethinking this whole thing.

[Charles Martel]

A ‘65 Chevy with a verifiable title and registration history is about as far from this scenario as you can get. There’s no reason to abandon that project.

[Nifster]

so glad that they are doing this stuff rather than protecting our borders.....

[stevio]

Yea, I guess they have to take their frustration out somewhere.