{"id":88504,"date":"2022-11-23T08:19:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T16:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=88504"},"modified":"2022-11-23T08:35:12","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T16:35:12","slug":"is-the-epa-ban-killing-the-tuner-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/is-the-epa-ban-killing-the-tuner-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the EPA Ban Killing the Tuner Market?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PRI<\/a><\/p>\n

A recent Road and Track article has put the issue of EPA overreach in the aftermarket into the spotlight again with the revelation that eBay Motors has restricted tuner listings.<\/h2>\n

The tension between the automotive aftermarket and the EPA has been ripe for the past few years as EPA interpretations of the Clean Air Act when it comes to the motorsports industry have raised concerns of EPA overreach. Organizations like the Performance Racing Industry<\/a> and the US Motorsports Association<\/a> have been advocating for Congress to Pass the \u201cRecognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act\u201d (RPM Act)<\/a><\/strong> in order to protect race and performance manufacturers and drivers from this potential over reach.<\/p>\n

Past statements from PRI have been clear on their stance<\/a>, \u201cThere are thousands of legitimate motorsports businesses that are at risk of EPA overreach,\u201d said Dr. Jamie Meyer, Performance Racing Industry (PRI) President. \u201cThe EPA is putting these businesses\u2014which are typically small, home grown, less sophisticated shops\u2014in situations where they have to take on the full might of the federal government. The EPA is doing nothing to validate its enforcement efforts, and these small businesses are left with little choice but to comply.\u201d<\/p>\n

This statement in particular was in reference to a fine incurred by PFI Speed, which was fined $18,000 by the EPA with a threat of escalation to $180,000 if the shop failed to comply within 30 days, for selling 37 Hondata S300 modules, but PFI is not alone in facing these types of threats from the EPA.<\/p>\n

Racers like Antron Brown have also testified in front of Congress on behalf of the RPM acts passage, highlighting the importance of the motorsports industry for the economy and focusing on the use of these aftermarket products for motor sports, not regular vehicles.<\/p>\n

One of the issues at hand? Tuning and non-emissions compliant tuning parts. The EPA is cracking down on users and manufacturers, even though these components are meant for track vehicles, not daily drivers. Manufacturers are subject to fines, and as a result, that is trickling down into restrictions on access to those parts.<\/p>\n

As the uncertainty and tension between government regulations and manufacturers grows, a recent Road and Track article<\/a> has brought yet another issue to light — selling and distribution of aftermarket parts, in particular listing restrictions on eBay Motors. While not a “new” new policy, the Road and Track article has focused on this statement from eBay <\/a>motors in their restricted items policies, along with reactions from the community:<\/p>\n

“Products that bypass, defeat, or render inoperative emission-control systems are not allowed.<\/p>\n

What is the policy?<\/strong>
\nProducts that bypass, defeat or render inoperative emission-control systems aren\u2019t allowed, either on their own or when combined with other hardware or software. See the EPA Enforcement Alert for more information. Examples of such products include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n