SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board today announced that Sears Holdings Management Corporation has agreed to a settlement of $285,200 to resolve air quality violations by offering for sale uncertified small off-road engines.

In November 2011, ARB discovered that the Sears “Black Friday” advertisements in California offered Motovox brand ‘stand-up’ scooters for sale. These scooters were, at the time, powered by uncertified engines that were not legal for sale, delivery, or distribution to California under the state’s air quality laws.  Sears disclosed to ARB that 713 units were delivered for sale in California and the company’s management took immediate action to remove all units before any units had been sold. 

In announcing this settlement, ARB compliance Chief James Ryden said that ARB  “recognized the prompt actions taken by Sears management to prevent the sale of these high polluting vehicles in California,” but went on to add that “ this situation serves as an important reminder that compliance with our state’s pollution standards begins long before the products reach the sales floor. Had the ‘door-buster’ advertisement not come to the attention of our investigators, it is likely that these scooters would have all been sold on the busiest shopping day of the year, leaving little chance to remove these vehicles-- and their excess emissions-- from California.” Sears officials have fully cooperated with ARB in the resolution of this matter.
 
Funds collected under the settlement will be paid to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, established to help reduce air pollution through education and the advancement and use of cleaner technologies.

Products utilizing engines that do not meet California's emission requirements pose a real danger to California residents. They produce high amounts of smog-forming pollutants, which can exacerbate respiratory ailments and cause other health conditions such as shortness of breath, headaches, birth defects, cancer and damage to internal organs.