President Trump pardoned a diesel mechanic convicted of violating the Clean Air Act back in November, and now, he’s done it again. On the eve of Independence Day, the commander-in-chief granted clemency to more than half a dozen individuals who had previously been dealt prison sentences, hefty civil penalties, and serious criminal fines. It’s the latest development in what can only be described as an about-face regarding the federal government’s stance on environmental enforcement.
The president said during an Oval Office news conference that these cases came to his attention “because [he] noticed they were arresting people for fixing their car.” He later added, “We rule by common sense.”
He’s referring to the use of defeat devices, which enable vehicles to operate without federally mandated emissions equipment like diesel particulate filters and exhaust gas recirculation systems. DPF and EGR are frequently blamed for expensive repairs, as well as extensive downtime for commercial vehicles. The broad term “defeat devices” can refer to hardware or software, which are frequently sold together as delete kits. In short, the hardware replaces the troublesome components, while the software rewrites code on the vehicle’s electronic control unit so it will still run.
Joining Troy Lake, the previously pardoned owner of Elite Diesel Service in Wyoming, are Joshua Davis, Matt Geouge, Jonathan Achtemeier, Tim Clancy, Ryan and Wade Lalone, Barry Pierce, Aaron Rudolf, and Mackenzie Spurlock.
Of course, these aren’t the only mechanics and tuners who have been found guilty of emissions tampering. The Environmental Protection Agency spent years prioritizing Clean Air Act enforcement, going as far as raiding a person’s home to confiscate the defeat devices they were selling. Much of that has been undone under Lee Zeldin, the current administrator of the EPA, who has emphasized deregulation during his tenure. Some of his biggest moves in the automotive space include killing auto start/stop and telling truck makers to stop forcing immediate power restrictions when vehicles run low on diesel exhaust fluid.
While there has been some mixed messaging lately, with the Department of Justice pursuing diesel truck owners’ data in one high-profile case, the shift seems clear: Neither the president nor the EPA is particularly concerned with enforcing the Clean Air Act when it comes to diesel vehicles. That’s a stark reversal, considering the previous administration’s stance. Where it could go from here is still uncertain, but don’t be surprised if you hear more news on this topic going forward.
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