DOJ sues eBay for selling 'rolling coal' devices; fines could hit $2 billion

[Nevilledog]

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/11/doj-sues-ebay-for-rolling-coal-devices-fines-could-hit-2-billion.html

Ebay could be on the hook for as much as $2 billion in fines for allegedly allowing hundreds of thousands of “rolling coal” pollution devices and other products that violate environmental laws to be sold on its platform.

Rolling coal is the practice of installing a tampering device to pump more diesel into a vehicle’s engine than it can handle, leading it to spew out sooty black clouds of exhaust that pollute the air.

The practice is sometimes used as a form of anti-environmental protest. Coal rollers, or the drivers who engage in the action, may intentionally target Teslas, Priuses or other electric or hybrid vehicles.

The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, filed a lawsuit claiming that the e-commerce giant enabled the sale of more than 343,000 rolling coal devices. Each sale could spur a fine of up to $5,580 under the Clean Air Act.

*snip*

[IA8IT]

1. What took so long??????????

[2naSalit]

9. +1

[Evolve Dammit]

13. great question.

[VMA131Marine]

2. That's going to sting a bit

eBay’s annual revenue is only $10B

Net income last year was -$1.27B

[getagrip_already]

3. Wonder if they will try to claw back $$$ from sellers?

It's probably in their contracts.

[progressoid]

6. Yep. I have a store there.

I see a rate increase in the future.

[RAB910]

4. They should also go after the buyers

[progressoid]

5. And the sellers.

[RAB910]

8. Yes

[Zeitghost]

12. Not sure on this specific law

But with many of these kinds of things, it's often only illegal to sell them, not to buy or possess them.

I'm actually shocked they are illegal to sell. I'm fairly involved in aftermarket vehicle modifications and they generally label such products as "not for on-road use" as a loophole for sales.

[themaguffin]

7. Good.

[2naSalit]

10. Finally.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. how about jail?

[Marthe48]

14. Good!

Bunch of losers around here have them. Go after end users, too.

[ShazzieB]

17. Yes!

Imo, these things should be illegal to manufacture, import, sell, buy, or install in a vehicle, anywhere in the US. They're an abomination. Go after everybody involved!

[Old Crank]

15. Good

And go after all teh buyers.

Make states to actual emmisions testing on diesel trucks not jsut a visual inspection of pollution devices.

[Duppers]

24. YES! Makes strict emissions laws National.

Anyone using such a device is just advertising:

"I'm a DUMBASS."

[ToxMarz]

16. Really mind boggling there are 343,000 asshats that actually bought this shit (just on eBay!)

That's probably a drop in the bucket for the number of asshats that are supporters of them.

[The Wizard]

18. Their abhorrent behavior

is a juvenile stunt to own the libs. Everyone who bought one should be thrown in prison for endangering lives and the environment. It should be costly to be an asshole.

[Duppers]

25. Indeed! 👍

[Shermann]

19. eBay should have stuck with just selling PEZ dispensers

Of course, Elon wouldn't have been able to then use them as a stepping stone.

[DFW]

20. I would love to see eBay fined $2 billion for selling these things

They have this "wasn't MY doing" attitude about every nasty device, or fake collectible, or evil drug that anyone wants to post on their site. If they want to earn the money, let them do it by offering legitimate wares, not this kind of toy.

[ffr]

21. Take these shitheads down!

Why can't people just row in the same direction so we can all get up the river safely? We have shitheads like these, rowing in opposite directions all creating havoc for everyone else.

We're a democracy because it should be majority rule. The minority doesn't get to piss all over everyone else without repercussions.

[edhopper]

22. This is great

Bravo to the DOJ.

BUT, this will go to the Supreme Court and they will rule that the EPA cannot legally regulate the environmentno, and the DOJ has no legal standing to sue for them.

[onlyadream]

23. Good. I hate eBay.

They banned me for life for no reason whatsoever. I merely created an account, hit submit and I was banned. An unfair practice.

[TeamProg]

26. Sweeeet!

[NBachers]

27. Fuckin' A Right. Then go after every maggot that bought one.

[VGNonly]

28. Good!

I dealt with a coal roller once. He dealt poorly, got popped by a cop for reckless driving!

[bringthePaine]

29. 'twould be a good start...👍