MassDEP Environmental Strike Force Investigation Results in Penalties, Suspension of Licenses at Six Auto Emission Inspection Stations  

Fraudulent Inspections Uncovered at Everett, Framingham, Lawrence, Methuen
 Salem and Worcester Locations

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized six auto inspection stations after an Environmental Strike Force (ESF) investigation found each had conducted fraudulent vehicle emission inspections in 2008 and early 2009.

Each of the six inspections stations will pay a penalty ranging from $6,000 to $30,000. Each has also signed a "Last Chance Agreement" with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and agreed to a license suspension for a period ranging from 30 to 120 days. In each case, any additional violation during a one- or two-year license suspension period could result in a complete revocation of its license. 

"The public relies on our Massachusetts Vehicle Check auto emission inspection program to help reduce pollutants in the air we breathe," MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt said. "Each resident of the Commonwealth is cheated out of cleaner air when emissions testing fraud occurs. It is also unfair to the vast majority of well-run auto inspection stations, which do the right thing by detecting and repairing vehicles that fail to meet the state's emission standards."

The inspection stations are located in Everett, Framingham, Lawrence, Methuen, Salem and Worcester. The investigation found that stickers were obtained and placed on cars that could not pass the emissions test by substituting another vehicle that could pass the test. 

Each of these stations must demonstrate full compliance with the regulations in order to determine if that station will have some of its suspension and financial penalty reduced. If that occurs, the stations may resume conducting inspections, but could face revocation of its license under the Last Chance Agreement. 

All of these facilities were licensed by the Massachusetts RMV to conduct yearly safety and emission inspections that cars and truck are required to undergo in the Commonwealth, and for which each motorist pays $29. The following stations were penalized:

* Hi-Tech Auto Services, Inc. at 416 Ferry Street in Everett has had its auto inspection license suspended for 120 days, with the remainder of its two-year suspension contingent on future compliance. The facility has also been penalized $30,000 for conducting eight fraudulent inspections from January 1, 2008 to April 8, 2008 and will pay $3,000. The remaining $27,000 will be stayed based on continued compliance.

* Framingham Petroleum & Auto Center at 174 Union Street in Framingham has had its auto inspection license suspended for 30 days, with the remainder of a one-year suspension stayed contingent on future compliance. The facility has also been penalized $6,000 for conducting 25 fraudulent inspections from January 1, 2008 to July 30, 2008 and for various hazardous waste management violations and will pay $3,000. The remaining $3,000 will be stayed based on continued compliance

* Route 114 Gulf, Inc. at 325 Winthrop Avenue in Lawrence has had its auto inspection license suspended for 30 days, with the remainder of its two-year suspension contingent on future compliance. The facility has also been penalized $30,000 for conducting 15 fraudulent inspections from January 1, 2008 to July 30, 2008 and will pay $12,200. The remaining $17,800 will be stayed based on continued compliance.

* Lowell Street Getty at 30 Lowell Street in Methuen has had its auto inspection license suspended for 30 days, with the remainder of its two-year suspension contingent on future compliance. The facility owner has also been penalized $32,000 for conducted 16 fraudulent inspections from April 8, 2008 to September 20, 2008 and will pay $16,000. The remaining $16,000 will be stayed based on continued compliance.

* Spiros Energy & Auto Repair at 119 Boston Street in Salem has had its auto inspection license suspended for 30 days, with the remainder of its two-year suspension contingent on future compliance. The facility has been penalized $24,000 for conducting 12 fraudulent inspections from November 1, 2008 through February 25, 2009 and for various hazardous waste management violations, and will pay $6,000 with the remaining $18,000 dependent on continued compliance. 

* Power Test (Sfair Enterprises) at 390 Belmont Street in Worcester has had its auto inspection license suspended for 30 days, with the remainder of its two-year suspension contingent on future compliance. The facility owner has also been penalized $20,000 for conducting 28 fraudulent inspections from January 1, 2008 to September 16, 2008 and will pay the entire amount.

This latest round of penalties and suspensions is the latest in an ongoing initiative involving cracking down on fraudulent auto inspection sites.  Recently, in October 2008, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and MassDEP announced civil and administrative enforcement cases against seven motor vehicle inspection stations and 12 inspectors for allegedly conducting hundreds of fraudulent inspections in violation of the state's Enhanced Emissions and Safety Test Program.

In February 2009, a motor vehicle inspection station in Lawrence agreed to pay $12,000 in fines and serve a 30-day suspension of its license for conducting a dozen fraudulent emissions tests during 2008, giving motorists passing inspection stickers when their vehicles should have failed.

The Environmental Strike Force (ESF) an interagency unit that includes investigators and attorneys from MassDEP and the Attorney General's Office. The ESF investigates and prosecutes violations that threaten the environment and that pose a threat to human health.

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