The California Environmental Protection Agency reported Pep Boys Company has agreed to pay $154,000 in penalties to the Air Resource Board (ARB) for selling all-terrain vehicles in California in violation of state air quality standards. In December 2006, the company sold and offered for sale Baja Motorsports’ Storm 125cc ATVs to California customers, but after being made aware of the vehicles’ failure to meet California emissions standards, Pep Boys reported its violations and settled the case, Agency spokesperson Patrica Rey explained. She added, “The $154,000 in penalties was paid to the Air Pollution Control Fund which is used to fund projects that mitigate pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology.”

Business First of Columbus reported Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann has settled with Central Ohio motorcycle and ATV dealer, Ackers, Inc., over a lawsuit alleging violations of consumer sales laws. “The state sued the dealer in May 2006, claiming it tacked on freight and dealer charges to contracts, a breach of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act and Advertising and Sale of Motor Vehicle Rule,” the paper explained. It added, the rule prohibits dealers from advertising prices that don’t include other charges and the additional charges made by the dealership sometimes exceeded $600. Ackers must refund the customers who were hit by these additional charges within the last two years and filed complaints with the attorney general, said Business First, and it must also pay a $70,000 civil penalty, $45,000 of which will be suspended when it fully complies with the settlement.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall of the KYMCO 2006-2008 model year MXU ATVs. According to the CPSC, 1,350 units have been recalled because the pivot bolts holding the rear suspension onto the frame can become loose and cause the rear swing arm to detach from the chassis, which could result in an injury or death of the rider. KYMCO has reportedly received six reports of such incidents, with two resulting in minor injuries. “Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ATVs and contact an authorized KYMCO dealer in their area to schedule a free repair,” the CPSC concluded.

Kawasaki has added two more series to its ATV contingency program and increased the total earnings to over $800,000 for 2008, reported ATV Rider Online. The ITP Quadcross and New England MX Series join the ATVA National MX Series, ATVA Regionals, GNCC, White Brothers 4 Stroke National, WORCS and the WPSA series, offering 75 opportunities for riders to win, the site explained. “The program runs Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2008 and a racer’s chances of earning a piece of that $800,000 are now greatly enhanced as Kawasaki offers more contingency for ATVs than any other, with more events and classes and bigger cash payouts,” ATV Rider added. For more information, details on each series, class payouts and schedules, as well as the official rules, visit www.kawasaki.com.

Titan International’s Communications Coordinator Courtney Leeser told us the company welcomed the US Department of Commerce’s (USDC) decision to impose preliminary countervailing duties on new pneumatic off-the-road (OTR) tires from China benefiting from government subsidies. The Commerce Department preliminarily found that OTR tire producers in China benefit from subsidies including loans from government-owned banks, tax breaks, government grants and access to low-cost rubber and land, described Leeser. “Tire producers in China benefit from government subsidies that give them an illegitimate advantage in our market and it is the US industry and American workers who have suffered as a result,” stated Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice Taylor. He added, “Hopefully [the USDC’s] decision will start to counteract the damage being done by China’s unfair subsidies.” Leeser concluded by saying that since 2004, imports of OTR tires from China have risen sharply, while domestic production and shipments of OTR tires has fallen.

The South Coast Today Web site reported that Massachusetts police have arrested two men suspected of being responsible for the theft of at least 11 ATVs stolen from Fairhaven, Attleboro, Swansea and Acushnet residents. The site explained that police officers recovered the vehicles after arresting Christopher Johnson, 18, and Ryan Mendes, 19, and searching their homes where they found seven ATVs in Johnson’s garage and another four at Mendes’ residence.