California Slaps Yamaha With $2 Million Air Pollution Fine

SACRAMENTO, California, January 25, 2008 (ENS) - Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, and South Seas Cycle Exchange of Honolulu will pay $2 million to the state of California to settle a 2005 lawsuit over the importation of motorcycles that failed to meet California emissions standards.

A portion of this penalty will be used to test emissions from ethanol-burning off-road engines.

The Air Resources Board's long-running investigation, which began in 2002, found that Yamaha USA, headquartered in Cypress, California, imported more than 400 illegal motorcycles, registered them to Yamaha, USA in California, obtained state license plates, and then eventually sold some of them to state residents.

In most cases, these were popular 1999 - 2002 models that were in great demand and difficult to purchase in California. One dealer imported more than 200 bikes and sold all of them to California residents.

"This settlement should send a powerful message to those who try and make an end run around our air quality regulations," said Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols.

"We have the nation's toughest emissions standards for a reason - because too many parts of California still fail to meet federal health levels for air quality. These motorcycles could well have contributed to Southern California's already fouled air."

An extreme case of motorcycle emissions. (Photo credit unknown)

While other dealers involved in the case settled earlier with the Air Resources Board, both Yamaha USA and South Seas Cycle Exchange refused to settle until recently.

Under the terms of the agreement, Yamaha USA will pay $1.2 million to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which supports pollution-related research.

The company will also pay $500,000 to fund a project to test the impact of ethanol fuel blends on emissions from off-road gasoline engines, and $300,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for attorneys' fees.

In addition to the financial penalties, Yamaha and South Seas Cycle Exchange started a vehicle purchase program in December to buy back and destroy or remove any motorcycles that have been identified as not having been certified for use or registration in California.

Motorcycles that do not meet California's stringent emission requirements create higher amounts of smog-forming pollutants, which can then exacerbate respiratory ailments and negatively affect other health conditions, said Nichols.

California motorcycle owners can tell if theirs is an illegal bike if the emissions label does not include the word California. If the bike does not meet California requirements, the word California will not be on the label and the label will say that it meets only federal requirements.

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