Emissions Tuning Fundamentals: Enforcement & The Future
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Enforcement & The Future
04.40
| 00:00 | As we look ahead to the future, US presidential elections have had little to do with the EPA's enforcement on the tuning industry. |
| 00:07 | In fact the bulk of enforcement against the tuning industry occurred during a presidency that opposed EPA action. |
| 00:14 | What may now play a bigger role in enforcement is the judicial system. |
| 00:18 | It just so happens that at the time of presenting this course, we've had some hugely impactful Supreme Court rulings. |
| 00:24 | The court believes enforcement should be based primarily on laws, not regulations, and laws cannot be passed or altered by the EPA without judicial approval. |
| 00:34 | We'll see what this results in over the next few years but it also comes about one year after stopping aftermarket defeat devices was deprioritised from being a top EPA initiative to a core initiative. |
| 00:47 | While the number of enforcement actions on the tuning industry may slow a bit since other areas are being given higher priority, it's unlikely they'll stop and of course we suggest proceeding with responsible practices. |
| 00:59 | In addition to enforcement against the sales of tunes, tuning devices and component parts, enforcement occurs in other ways. |
| 01:07 | Vehicle inspections, including emissions testing either in the form of an OBD check, visual inspection or actual sniff testing emissions can prevent registration and road use of vehicles in some areas. |
| 01:19 | While less common, roadside testing is also performed in some areas, usually involving sniffing emissions as vehicles drive by or perhaps stopping vehicles at a checkpoint. |
| 01:30 | Compliance and enforcement are a moving target so we've provided a foundation based on interpretation of the laws and regulations as of today. |
| 01:38 | It's up to you to stay up to date and be aware of the full scope of what it takes to be compliant in your particular area. |
| 01:45 | In some areas you may have to adhere to rules based on the town, city, county, state and province that you do business from, as well as nation level regulations and those of any areas that you wish to sell products or tunes into. |
| 01:59 | Since that's a lot to attempt to keep tabs on, if you're operating a business, you should consult an attorney that's able to guide you in these matters. |
| 02:07 | In addition to having a good attorney, there are also consultants and organisations like SEMA which can help you to navigate compliance efforts. |
| 02:16 | In this course we primarily focus on US regulations but of course similar rules and enforcement are happening in many other countries around the world. |
| 02:25 | In Europe there are EU regulations, additional rules within each nation and sometimes local rules as well. |
| 02:31 | In Europe, China and some other countries, enforcement on individual modified vehicles can be quite aggressive. |
| 02:38 | In addition to required routine vehicle inspections, roadside evaluations finding modifications which are not certified or approved can carry heavy penalties. |
| 02:47 | Repercussions may include vehicle impound, fines and loss of insurance coverage. |
| 02:53 | Sometimes multiple governing bodies may get involved, for example an environmental protection agency and traditional law enforcement. |
| 03:01 | When it comes to compliance, half measures don't give you full protection and confidence so a comprehensive approach is best. |
| 03:08 | The spirit of most regulations is to reduce emissions but government resources are sometimes limited. |
| 03:14 | This can lead to rules banning changes that would require in depth knowledge and testing. |
| 03:19 | An example would be performing a modern engine swap which reduces emissions compared to the engine originally fitted. |
| 03:25 | If engine swaps aren't allowed in your area then you can get into trouble even though you've actually improved vehicle emissions. |
| 03:32 | This is an area where doing the right thing isn't always enough. |
| 03:36 | There's been a lot to take in in this module so before we move on, let's recap what we've covered. |
| 03:41 | To protect yourself, follow best practices, stay up to date on regulation and law changes and consult a lawyer if you're unsure how to best proceed. |
| 03:50 | In the US, the EPA has been looking at previous five years of company sales so don't give in to a false sense of security if there's a lull in enforcement. |
| 04:00 | Your actions during one president's four year term can still be enforced against by the next administration. |
| 04:06 | When doing your research, whether you're in the US or elsewhere, be aware that local, regional and national regulations can layer on top of each other. |
| 04:15 | At this point in the course we've covered the major foundational topics including which emissions and parts regulators are interested in, tools to aid you in your compliance efforts, formal paths to compliance and recent changes in enforcement. |
| 04:29 | In the next section of the course we'll start looking at the process of making sure that your calibrations are emissions compliant. |
