Two sides to this story.
First off, I have no use for the EPA's control addiction either. If they would leave the engine manufactures alone, they could produce clean burning engines that are cheaper, more fuel efficient and more reliable.
Now on the other hand, they had laws and regulations on EPA control devices on cars and trucks, these aftermarket companies know them, yet still produce the delete kits and tuners to by pass the control devices, so it was a matter of time before the fines catch up with them.
Yea I tend to agree with you about the manufacturers part in this. They know full well what laws they are going to violate when they make certain things. "Off Road Use Only" is a joke, they only stamp that on the box to try and slither away from any responsibility they might have otherwise. That being said, what a person does to their own vehicle is entirely up to them and if they install parts that violate emissions laws, they deserve to catch the fine. You have to admit there really is no need for half of the aftermarket crap people put on street driven vehicles which is why the EPA is tough on the aftermarket and the consumer. Before going to a N/A 522ci, my race car had a 496ci with two stages of nitrous. It had tags, mufflers, working lights etc. and was 100% street legal, minus the nitrous. Now if I got pulled over and the fuzz discovered the system, I doubt they would hold Induction Solutions responsible for my stupidity. Point is there is a place to use things and a place to avoid using things. If you go through all sorts of trouble to build a polluting, fire breathing, black smoke emitting vehicle you want to drive everyday, dont cry when someone fines you. You knew everything you did was illegal and wouldnt fly when you ordered the parts.
I think the EPA oversteps itself in some ways, especially in regards to personal vehicles. They cant exactly do it case by case though which is where the annoyance factor comes in. I do think in recent years its become extreme and with no actual benefit. When you weigh the cost per mile and environmental impact "green" vehicles like the Prius carry, it sort of makes you wonder. Those things cost a ton to own and have a ton of environmental impact in both production and waste yet people think they are eco friendly cars. Same goes for most hybrid vehicles.
The EPA really needs to concentrate on more important things, this is America though so we all know they wont. Using common sense is far to easy, they have to make things hard to appear as though they are working.
