Posted on 06/12/2023 5:11:29 AM PDT by Twotone
New York City joined several cities and states in suing South Korean car makers Kia and Hyundai over allegations that the vehicles are too easy to steal.
In a filing to the Southern District of New York, the city complained that its law enforcement resources had been stretched to the brink due to an explosion in Kia and Hyundai thefts. The lawsuit claimed that the companies knowingly cut costs on anti-theft technology in order to boost profits.
"Hyundai’s and Kia’s business decisions to reduce costs, and thereby boost profits, by foregoing common anti-theft technology have resulted in an epidemic of thefts," the lawsuit read.
Some models sold by the company in the United States come without engine immobilizers, a common anti-theft feature that has been an industry standard since the 1990s. The device prevents a car's engine from starting without the main key, which contains a device that is needed to send a signal approving the engine's ignition.
The introduction of engine immobilizers in 1992 is directly correlated with a decline in vehicle thefts. Hyundai and Kia's failure to put the device in many of its models has led to a drastic increase in thefts in recent months after viral videos on social media showed people how to steal these vehicles with just a screwdriver and USB cable.
“As the videos detailed, a thief need only remove the plastic cowl under the steering column and use a USB cable to start these unsecure cars,” New York City said in the lawsuit. “What followed was all too predictable: Thefts of Kias and Hyundais skyrocketed.”
The lawsuit reported that despite making up just 2.9% of registered cars, Hyundais and Kias made up 19.3% of all reported car thefts in 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported. In the first four months of 2023, the city experienced a roughly 660% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts when compared to the same period the previous year.
The two car companies settled a class action lawsuit last month over the thefts, paying $200 million to affected customers.
Having such a device also allows the authorities to turn off your car...
Jut sayin’
So if you don’t put in side airbags, because of cost, are you then liable for side impact injuries?
“engine immobilizers”
I have a great idea for thief immobilizers.
Basically they are cages with strong ferrous bars.
Get a steering wheel lock at O’Reilly’s and use it
Agree, put the punks in Jail. Maybe we can call the cars “horseless carriages”. Then when the car is stolen we an HANG THE HORSE THIEF!!!
Leave it to the left to blame the victim for a liberal incited crime wave. Maybe if blue cities didn’t give thieves get out of jail free cards, there wouldn’t be so many stolen cars. Not to mention that boosting catalytic converters, filled with rare earth metals, is easy money.
The states have no standing retroactively whining about their inability to control criminals in their domain
The vehicles were all registered by the state and therefore accepted as is with no disqualifying elements
The City officials set the precedent that they didn't feel car theft was a problem.
Meanwhile, lots of lawyers on both sides of the lawsuit get paid immense sums for accomplishing nothing
Those devices may have some deterrent effect, but they can be defeated pretty easily and quickly.
Just NO
People are thrives. Blame them
Louisiana also has a great idea to deter car theft. Louisiana allows lethal force to protect property. I like it.
“These are my kind of “thief immobilizers”...”
what? fake bullets? you gonna sling-shot ‘em at the thieves? ...real ones might work better, particularly when properly launched ...
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.