Ebay Could Owe $1.9 Billion in Fines for Allowing Sale of 343,000 Emissions Defeat Devices

L4sBot@lemmy.worldmod to Technology@lemmy.world – 736 points –
Ebay Could Owe $1.9 Billion in Fines for Allowing Sale of 343,000 Emissions Defeat Devices
thedrive.com

Ebay Could Owe $1.9 Billion in Fines for Allowing Sale of 343,000 Emissions Defeat Devices::The Department of Justice alleges that eBay illegally sold 343,011 emissions defeat devices, and could face billions in penalties.

66

the DOJ also alleges that eBay sold 23,000 unregistered or restricted-use pesticides, which violated a 2020 U.S. EPA stop-sale order, as well as distributing 5,614 paint and coating removal products that contain methylene chloride. The chemical is linked with lethal brain and liver cancer, as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Yeah, fuck em up and fine them to hell.

If ebay took this to court there's a good chance they'd win. The overturning of the Chevron deference means any action by the EPA or enforcement of its rules is on shaky footing.

6 more...

The bigger story is:

Who are those 343,011 idiots?

I'm sure some of them are idiots. I'm also sure there are some people who needed a car to work, catalytic converter went out and they needed to find the cheapest possible way to pass emissions and keep getting to work.

I know that because I'm about to drop a thousand or 2 on my catalytic converter, which I'll have to install myself to save money, to pass emissions. Luckily, I can budget well and every car repair known to man is on YouTube

Someone needs to start a catalytic converter rental service where in they install a caddy so you can get your emissions done and then they install the bypass when they take the unit back so that you can cheat the system and look legit. /s

I feel like everyone should just share one catalytic converter if they're gonna cost that much

Lots of deisel guys will delete the system due to cost and complexity.

My father did this, but he only did this because it was either delete the EGR or scrap the truck, a truck which, almost 9 years later, he has still not paid off. He had issues specifically with the emissions device and the work involved would have turned it into a Ship of Theseus

1 more...

Saw one of these for the first time in our red neck of the woods. First thought when I saw all that black smoke coming out of that BBQ smoke stack was “how did that pass emissions?” Now I know why. Yuck

That's less about removed emissions devices than a "performance" tune. A truck without a DPF isn't going to shit out black smoke unless some yahoo has a tuner that dumps fuel in that doesn't combust fully.

Which they do on purpose just to spite electrical car drivers; rolling coal, climate change isn't real, god is real and HE would never allow that, yadda yadda! Assholes be assholes.

An EGR delete WILL let you push out black smoke on a stock tune, but it won't let you "roll coal" as they call it, it'll only do it if you gas it real hard and even then, it'll just be a puff.

Exactly. You have to really be trying to make a properly tuned engine shit out smoke, or bad rings. Detuning for power is what smokes, and then you have these chucklefucks that specifically set up the engine to roll coal. I think people that do that should be put in a sealed room with a hose to the exhaust of their rigs and someone revs it until the fuel tank is empty.

I first thought that you worked at the DMV because of your instance name, lol.

Looking forward to the $3M fine they settle on. That'll teach eBay, surely.

EBay isn't that big. A 3 million dollar fine would sting

They did nearly $10B in revenue last year…

Yeah, and a net loss of a bit over $1B. Revenue ≠ money in the bank.

But a $3M loss is going to sting when they’re already losing over 333 times that per year?

Yes it will. Also the PR negativity from this caused there stock to drop %1.6 according to Reuters.

I am not a fan of these silly laws but the enforcement will be effective

Oh boy this is going to be fun.

Btw that's $5,539.18 per device.

Damn near every aftermarket automotive part I have ever bought contains some variation of the "This is not intended for use on street vehicles, offroad and race use only" somewhere in the description.

I can cut out my cat and weld in a piece of 2 inch pipe and I just created an emissions defeat device... I can fit an oil catch can, if I plug the breather tube back into the intake its legal, if I vent to atmosphere its not.

I mean, people who "roll coal" have no sympathy from me but this case is nowhere near as cut and dried as a lot of people think.

I trust the DOJ to be able to distinguish between a 2 inch pipe and more deliberate devices.

Let me introduce you to our friends the ATF. Or the USDA and their wonderful food pyramid. Government agencies have agendas. You should look at facts and not blindly trust them.

Please tell us the facts of eBay being accused of selling devices that defeat emissions tests. I'm sure we would all love to hear them.

I have no clue how you think I care about that. Don't blindly trust government agencies.

Do you think the ATF can tell the difference between a shoe string and a machine gun?

How can we look at facts if you won't tell us what the facts are?

Just trust him bro. Govt bad, okay?

I love it because they have absolutely no alternative source for information like this. They just tell you it's wrong and to "do your own research." Which, generally, I've already done when they tell me to do that and come to the opposite conclusion they've come to.

I didn't say anyone was wrong you absolute melon. Learn to read.

You said for us to "look at the facts" and not believe the government information. So it sure sounds like you're saying that despite your insults.

Then I apologize for it being confusing.

I was saying don't trust government authorities blindly: look at the facts yourself. It's a fairly typical response to appeals to authority.

And don't pretend you weren't being insulting because you didn't say a mean word.

I didn't make any statements about the facts. Can you read? I said don't trust three letter agencies.

Weird, it must have been some other PsychedSy who said:

You should look at facts and not blindly trust them.

Technically, a coathanger is a machine gun if you modify it to a certain configuration.

I appreciate someone that at least knows where I was going. And it's not a machine gun, you'll sure as fuck get prosecuted like it is, tho.

Legally speaking, it is a machine gun, but yes I do share your sentiment that it is not one.

You won't get prosecuted for it though as long as you don't possess a weapon that it can fit in.

then what heinous agenda do you think the DOJ to follow here?

Here? Prolly none. Still, it's not exactly a situation where you need a government authority to choose a position, is it?

The DOJ should not work to enforce the laws of the country? What role should the department of justice have then?

How do you people come up with this insane shit? I never said any of that. Or anything near it. I never even commented on the situation.

It's hopeless my dude. Lemmy is filled with either wannabe revolutionaries or establishment toadies. There's no healthy scepticism to be found yet.

Keyword being could. They won't, though. They'll get a million or two to pay and will move on with their day.

Ebay will appeal it for as long as they can, DON'T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME!

I don’t think we care in Australia. The design rules are pretty much behind the pack, so much so that we run the risk of being the dumping ground for 3rd world vehicles.

Its a $10,000 fine if you get caught de-catting a car.

Also we have the whole defect notice system, which I'm pretty sure the US doesnt have. We actually hold the end user accountable.

Just a shame we don’t have great emission standards to begin with. Apparently we use the cheap and dirty fuel of the world. Gotta sell it somewhere!

Shame its connected to thousands of deaths each year

You guys were the last country in the world to ban leaded gas... in 2002 lol.

I can already picture the episode of Highway Patrol now where Johno gets caught for the fifth time in the same car and cops a couple hundred bucks fine and the loss of a demerit point.

How is this ebay's fault? Sounds like people need to start reporting listings

I hate ebay though so I kind of want them to lose

Why do you hate ebay?

Ebay abuses sellers then wonders why they leave to Amazon. Buyers don't always fare great either but they are generally treated better than sellers. Factor in the random ban threads and general outsourced customer service stupidity with people who will never solve your issues, it was worth leaving.