Air board puts brakes on Vernon cycle vendor: Viva closes after $268,000 fine for bikes failing to meet standards.VERNON motorcycle motorcycle, motor vehicle whose design is based on the bicycle. The German inventor Gottlieb Daimler is generally credited with building the first practical motorcycle in 1885. The motorcycle did not become dependable and popular, however, until after 1900. importer Viva Motorsports Inc. shut its doors within weeks of receiving a $268,000 fine from the California Air Resources Board California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the "clean air agency" of the state of California in the United States. Established originally in 1967, it is a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, an organization which reports directly to the California for allegedly selling motorcycles that did not meet standards. The air board began investigating the motorcycle and recreational vehicle importer in 2006 after a routine inspection at dealerships turned up all-terrain vehicles all-ter·rain vehicle n. Abbr. ATV A small, open motor vehicle having one seat and three or more wheels fitted with large tires. It is designed chiefly for recreational use over roadless, rugged terrain. and motorcycles that did not meet California air emission standards Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. Many emission standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles (motor cars) and other powered vehicles but they can also regulate . Board investigators traced the vehicles back to Viva Motorsports and three operating subsidiaries An operating subsidiary is a business term frequently used within the United States railroad industry. In the case of a railroad, it refers to a company that is a subsidiary but operates with its own identity and rolling stock. . Some of the vehicles had already been sold; the purchasers were notified and some returned their motorcycles or ATVs immediately. Others did not return them and are subject to registration cancellations if they fail emission tests. The air board sued Viva Motorsports in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Superior Court. In June, the court issued a $1.9 million judgment against the importer and its subsidiaries. Air board staff agreed to lower the fine to $268,000, which could increase if further violations are discovered. "There are plenty of great motorcycles that meet clean air standards," said Mary Nichols, Air Resources Board chairwoman. "Most dealers know this and carry only bikes that have their California smog certificate. Those who try to cut corners put themselves in a lose-lose situation." Shahrokh Mokhtarzadeh, a Century City attorney who represented Viva Motorsports, said his client had no choice to settle, since they could not afford the estimated $500,000 it would have cost to mount an appeal. He also said the $268,000 fine effectively put Viva Motorsports out of business. "They came up with the money to pay off the fine, but saw that with the economy the way it was and the money they paid out, they could not continue to operate," Mokhtarzadeh said. Karen Cesar, a spokeswoman for the air board, said the agency did not intend to put the company out of business. "Quite the contrary," she said. "We worked with the judge to negotiate a penalty that both sides could live with. If we wanted to put them out of business, we would have pursued the full stipulated penalty." Staff reporter Howard Fine Howard Fine (November 28, 1958) is an American acting teacher, the founder of the Howard Fine Acting Studio in Hollywood, CA, and also a theatre director. Early Life Howard Fine was born on November 28, 1958 in Providence, Rhode Island. He is the youngest of 5 children. can be reached at hfine@labusinessjournal.com or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 227. |
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