Jesse James was fined $271,250 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for building 50 motorcycles between 1998 and 2005 violating state emissions standards. While some may feel this just shows no one is above the law, looking a little closer makes it appear it was more about the money.
Jesse James is not turning out thousands of motorcycles and when told his bikes were non compliant he offered to bring them all in and fit them with the necessary parts to correct the problems. CARB instead said he needed to pay $22,000 per bike, later settled to be around $5,000 each to make him right with the state. This is the same Jesse James who built Cisco Burger, the solar powered, biodegradeable, all organic hamburger stand. The same Jesse James who has built a hydrogen powered race car to set a new speed record at Bonneville with a car that emits mostly water vapor. I guess when you’re a bureaucrat on a mission, none of that matters.
This kind of enforcement gives a guy an uncomfortable feeling when you consider the new EPA rules about motorcycle engine compliance for custom and kit built motorcycles. CARB and the EPA are not the same agency, CARB seems to be the overachiever here, but once enforcement starts, low volume motorcycle builders could be facing big headaches.
Link: Press Telegram
Related: S&S Engines Get EPA Certification
Related: What Everyone Should Know About the New Kit and Custom Motorcycle Rules from the EPA
hoyt says
…meanwhile, are those same bikes that he offered to fix still running without the proper emissions? The article suggests he didn’t get a chance to fit them properly & CARB just wanted the money. WTF ?
Bryce says
I wouldn’t be surprised if CARB wanted a publicity coup. Fining Jesse James sends a message to other bikers that they need to comply.
Chris says
He could have owed over a million for those 50 bikes. The states clemency should be praised not criticized. In it for the money? They are in it for the publicity for voluntary compliance. Unfortunately, it would seem that Jesse took one for the team.
“Ignorantia juris non excusat”
hoyt says
… but fix the bikes, too. I still don’t see where they FULLY addressed the issue. And, this doesn’t get people to work with them as voluntarily as they could.
coho says
I’m genuinely torn on this.
On the one hand, CARB screwed JJ out of a quarter mil and that’s not right. He offered to fix ’em, and it would have been plenty expensive to bring all those bikes into compliance, but then the state wouldn’t be the one the money went to. So CARB said “Pay up, Sucker.” That is also not right.
On the other hand, if it’s got a license plate it should be street-legal (at least in the state where it’s licensed), regardless of its original cost, just like everybody else’s.
Will the individual owners of JJ bikes (and other customs) be CARBs next fund-raising group? Will they get fined or will it be “fix-it-or-park-it”?
Bryce says
Jesse James built non-compliant bikes. I’m doubtful that he didn’t know he was doing that. Knowingly breaking the law means you risk punishment. Granted, it would have been a considerable expense to make those bikes compliant. I don’t think it was as much about the money as it was making a statement that violators will be punished.
Chris says
Jesse James: “If they care so much about air, then why don’t they read that study by Oxford (University) that showed how much air pollution is caused by cow farts?”
On a lighter side
-I wish the cow farting excuse would allow me to break the law too.
Bryce says
That’s some classic Jesse James right there.
todd says
The scary thing to me is this means that CARB is starting to check or measure emissions on motorcycles. It’s not so bad for Jesse, considering he probably made that much profit on the bikes. Consider the implications, in the future when they test bikes it will be the owner that gets fined. How many bikes are still wearing their smog equipment (stock exhaust, chip, jetting, charcoal cannister, air filter, etc)?
-todd
guitargeek says
I, for one, think motorcycles should be exempt from this testing, but then again I live in a state that doesn’t even have vehicle inspections…
kneeslider says
todd, it looks like CARB has already submitted a proposal to include motorcycles in emissions inspections and they are planning to tighten motorcycle emission standards another 50% by 2013.
F451 says
Rules and regulation are what make for a civilized society. I seriously doubt this fine even dented JJ’s pocketbook as his accountants are probably working on some tax angle, but the reality is that there is no freedom—anywhere in the world—without responsibility and accountability. If anyone wishes to play the rogue, that’s fine, provided they are willing to pay the price. I, for one, believe that America’s public institutions are among the finest in the world, and if the trend of privatization continues in this country then your tax dollars will be going to firms that you, as a tax paying citizen, will have little to no control over, and no recourse. It is a sad fact when Americans believe they can actually be above the law versus using their minds to build something within the laws. It is always funny to see people lambast public intuitions, but the second they are personally in trouble, call upon them, even demand upon them.
xbob says
so they fined him because the bikes were not in compliance. instead of having him fix them at his expense.
and now the bikes are still not in compliance, but theyve got 270,000.00
somethings not right here. i would think that they would want the bikes to be enviromentally correct, and then go from there with any fines.
i guess after the $$$ is paid, you can have all the pollution you want.
RH says
It sounds like CARB is simply the combination of organized crime and vehicular censorship.
It’s all about money and power. We can’t allow private citzens to have THAT now, can we? Money and power belongs to the government! Take THAT, you private sector serfs!
In the mean time, JJ got the most exposure of any builder in a while without going to jail or killing anybody.
chris says
motor vehicles should be emissions friendly. period. but i think this is going a little far. . . anyone ever notice how tiny bike engines are? doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be clean – but for god’s sakes man! did you know that there are little if ANY smog rules regarding air travel? look up how much filth one of those big aluminum tubes cooks out just for a taxi down the runway. motorcycles have little to no impact when weighed against the whole. CARB is full of money loving lobbyists.
Eric says
Government is never about making sense. They extorted $270,000 and accomplished nothing. If the $270K was used to bring the bikes into compliance OK If the $270k was used to satisfy the CARB”S lust for power shame on them.
F451 says
Most likely CARB took a direct aim at JJ to get the message across to an industry that has wantonly done as it pleases by targeting one of its elite. Lets not forget, JJ is a businessman, and sells “lifestyle,” and if you’ve seen his toys, you know that he is about more than just riding the asphalt for the zen of it.
hoyt says
I don’t have a problem with environmental laws (more improvements will come after Jan. 20th, 2008 for sure).
Bottom line – CARB apparently could have done better with this situation while still sending a profound message. Someone at CARB was on a power trip; then when Jesse had to think for them by offering to fix the bikes, CARB still didn’t work it out as those bikes are still running down to the local bar in the same condition, registered or not.
Chris says
The state has to pay their personnel somehow. Think about the percentage of taxes (funds) that go into these environmental agencies. It is not cheap, and for most state governements, they cut funds within those environmental protection agencies first, making them have no choice but to fine the public for breaking the law to keep their agency on line. It’s about time an environmental agency grew a spine. As far as I’m concerned, your wasting the publics money and time by knowingly breaking these laws and regulations, state or otherwise. Fixing 50 bikes won’t fix the problem. Getting 50,000 bikes from different companies to comply because the owners now know the agency is not going to mess around anymore sounds like a perfect plan to me. I ride, and I hate taxes and regulations just like the next person. But what I really hate is an govenment agency that is getting paid through taxes that are not doing their jobs.
houyt says
true. A lesser fine (but still steep) plus the hassle, cost, & lost production time of having to fix the bikes would have been a good message.
F451 says
I am happy to see my tax dollars spent by CARB. For those who are not, they can vote, or move to other states, or even better, other countries. Nothing is stopping them. Visit a third-world country and you’ll want to come back to the regulations that provide the US with cleaner drinking water, sanitary conditions, and other life necessities. Visit some other countries who have even stauncher regulations (and I’m not talking about CARB), and you’ll be happy to claim your American citizenship. The propaganda that the AMA, and worse, some of the motorcycle magazines that I have subscriptions to, plus other self-proclaimed martyrs of “rugged individualism” profess is…well…lets just say some of us see through the bullcrap.
motoquest says
I think emissions standards, like Euro3, are shaping the motorcycle market today as we’ve never seen before. That’s not bad if we consider the benefits for having “green” engines in our bikes. But sometimes technology -or budgets- can’t keep up with those regulations.
RH says
I don’t see any of the CARB sympathizers above making their own bikes “greener” than the law requires. If emissions matter, then what’s stopping you? Hypocrisy? Lead by example!
I’ve yet to see an article on custom emissions hardware. Put your money where your mouths are!
humanoid says
It’s one thing to have rules. It’s quite another to go back on your word and tell someone you’ve changed your mind about the legality of what they are doing. Unfortunately government agencies do this to people all the time and usually get away with it.
And I don’t want to hear any holier than thou nonsense about the superior envirnomental laws of CA. CA has some of the filthiest cities I have ever visited. If my state capital ever got as dirty as some of the bigger cities in CA, the governor would declare a state of emergency and have the place evacuated by Guardsmen in NBC hazmat suits.
If JJ had any sense he’d move out of that state. I don’t see why anyone involved in any aspect of the manufacturing process would put their business at risk by operating there. All CA has going for it is nice scenery and an admittedly incredible amount of waining momentum from the days when it was a nice place to live.
F451 says
RH,
I have NEVER altered any of the many motorcycles I’ve owned emission devices, AND I’ve never fallen prey to the “loud pipes save lives” propaganda either. If there were better fuel available that was more environmentally sound—I would purchase said fuel. If there are tires being made that fit my motorcycles, which take the environment into accountability on how they are manufactured—I’ll purchase them. The world is heading toward “sustainable development” there is no other choice.
There is no custom emissions hardware that lower emissions. The hardware sold today is illegal that alters timing and emissions, but companies made a fortunate for selling it illegally, while noting such tomfoolery as “For Offroad or Race Use Only.” Yeah, right. These are now the companies crying—because they sold, illegally, these devices and aftermarket, because now they are being called on the carpet. I say they should be happy with the money they made, while they made it.
manoswath says
I have been reading this and that, here and there about this. It’s not just shops but individuals also. The EPA “new†rules state that ANY modifications made to any motorcycle, 1979 and newer, that MAY alter the emissions are not allowed. Simply put, if you put a non-certified aftermarket exhaust or air filter on your bike, even if the modification DID NOT alter the emissions, you could be fined.
I wondered if motorcycles have as big of an impact on the environment as the EPA think they do. I did some research and could not find any direct comparison but I did find out the following.
The amount of fuel used by all the motorcycles during a one year period, in the US, is equal to what the airlines and the trucking industry in the US uses, combined, in TWO DAYS.
EPA, leave us alone. Cast your lines on some bigger fish.
manoswath says
http://www.aimag.com/epa/Jan06-pt1.htm
RH says
F451,
I have to admit I agree with everything you said in that last one. I love racing hardware – at the track, where it belongs.
CARB & everyone else has been complicit in all of this for a very long time – perhaps it’s time to fine them or better yet, throw them in jail.
There’s nothing stopping anybody from getting into “high performance emissions hardware” (?) business. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings one bit if someone succeeded doing that!
chris says
i’m admittedly new to the whole bike thing, but cars i know pretty well. ever read a car mag that deals with modifications? most of them are based in California. a few of them even preach AND practice clean emissions on their street cars. the point of this is – cars can be made to be quite fast and streetable – above their standard factory configurations – while still maintaining strict CARB regulation. now why can’t bikes be, first allowed by CARB to do so, and then by the tuners themselves?
discontinuuity says
I’m having trouble making heads or tales of these new environmental regulations. They seem full of loopholes and red tape that have the potential to make the air cleaner for everyone, but at the cost of screwing over a lot of the small custom shops. Part of me wants to make a lot of noise and “stick it to the man,” but then I take a walk down the (not very busy) mainstreet in my town and inhale a cloud of nasty exhaust from diesel trucks, poorly tuned old jalopies, and cold catalysts. That usually makes me hope for even more regulation and testing.
Frank says
CARB supposedly fined Jessee because they were worried about clean air. Since Jessee paid the fine and the bikes are still not pollution compliant does that mean the owners can also be fined. Are these bikes being fined twice…first Jess, 2nd the owners? Sounds like CARB is incompetent, about money, or both. Good example you set there CARB!
Doug says
Personally, I experienced the governments wise choice of conservation in the Navy. If we wanted an increase in supplies, we would have to show need. More often than not, needing more supplies AND getting them was solved by throwing overboard the supplies we had left before entering port. This by orders from the Captain, a gov official. We had to use ALL supplies in order to “re-up”, understand? These are the people paying thousands of dollars for, say maybe, four screws and one toilet seat. Why are they going after easy self-employeed prey who save our precious gasoline, and not going after the smog generating coporate airlines, trains, lots of factories, the trucking industry and the list goes on. Of course they pay more in re-election campaign monies (coporations) than Jesse James, or even Harley Davidson for that matter. Government for the government, by the government and………..gee, we forgot. Most be another department of the government that can finish that statement. Before I am wisked off to parts unknown, this is the best government in the world. Just ask me or any other Vietnam Vets.
ace says
Been there, donethat managed a rasther large budget for equipment procurement in the AF… If you didn’t spend ALL of last years funds you lost the difference. poor performance reports were revcieved for balancing the biudget..Which lead to alot of 11th hour calls from other ‘acccount managers ” hey Im so and so from such and such can you guys spend X hundred thousand dollars by friday????? Thanks, saved my butt,send me the account #…
I associate CARB with Joan Claybrook(?) nhtsa safety witch who designed the “safe ” motorcycle in the early 70’s that looked like giant hamster ball.. I don’t want any government tryingto protect me from myself thanks…
Carb was clearly vindictive here.as was noted the bikes are still “polluting”. They claim there’s a “huge” problem with 49cc 2stroke weed whackers…and other lawn equipment. Strains credibilityto the breaking point.Less gov thank you…