The owner of a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 with a modified diesel engine took to Facebook to warn others that the state of New Jersey may be scouring social media for trucks that don’t meet emissions regulations.
“Just a warning to anyone listing diesel trucks on Facebook, don’t post all the details and don’t trust people asking questions about your truck” – Mike Siebold, Owner Ram 2500wrote recently on Facebook.
His warning came after he posted an ad about the truck on a website detailing what had been done to it, he said Drive. In the post, he mentioned that the truck had been “removed,” which refers to the removal of components such as diesel particulate filter and the exhaust gas recirculation valve. These parts are an important aspect of a vehicle’s emissions control and remove soot and other particulate matter from a diesel engine’s exhaust.
Read also: Spartan Diesel Tuner Gets Jail Time For Selling Low Emission Devices
So the post got attention New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The organization sent Sebold a letter listing the violations he was allegedly involved in, including trying to sell a vehicle whose emissions equipment had been tampered with.
“If DEP becomes aware of such a sale or attempted sale, appropriate enforcement action is taken against the seller or seller and the person is required to comply with New Jersey regulations,” the department said in a statement to Drive.
Sebold suspects that in addition to viewing his message, the DEP may have secretly contacted him. The organization said it was made aware violations on June 23, just as he posted detailed photos and videos of the truck in action to Facebook accounts he claims have since been deactivated.
Despite the statements made in Sebold’s recent Facebook post, the DEP does not have the authority to jail him, it can only issue fines. The fines however, this giveaway could be cumulative, meaning they could exceed the cost of returning the car to a warehouse, which he claims could cost up to $10,000. Wasn’t the one who did the “removal” as he bought it as is, Sebold no longer has the old parts.
From the need to either return the truck to storage or dispose of it, Sebold chooses the latter option.
“As of today, I plan to take the truck off the road,” he said. “I’m dropping the insurance on it tomorrow, I’m going to my DMV tomorrow. I’m going to turn in the license plates, turn in the registration and ask them to call it salvage or just an SUV if they’ll allow it. Then I’m going to go to the fair in town, and I’m going to run my truck in a car park. If it explodes, it will explode. I don’t care because I’m turning in the engine anyway.’
https://www.carscoops.com/2022/07/new-jersey-allegedly-using-social-media-to-fine-modified-diesel-trucks/
