Lawmaker Proposes Legalizing Truck Equipment Modifications

New legislation put forward in the Senate aims to change the legal landscape surrounding modifications to heavy-duty trucks. Named the Diesel Truck Liberation Act and introduced by Senator Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming, this bill seeks to vacate convictions of mechanics charged with tampering with truck diesel equipment.

Key Features of the Diesel Truck Liberation Act

The Diesel Truck Liberation Act has several significant components:

• Prohibits the federal government from mandating manufacturers to install or maintain emissions control devices or onboard diagnostic systems.
• Eliminates the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to enforce pollution laws related to vehicle emissions controls.
• Aims to vacate existing prison sentences for offenses linked to emissions modifications.
• Expunges criminal and civil records of individuals charged under these laws.

Inspiration Behind the Legislation

This bill was inspired by the case of Troy Lake, a diesel mechanic from Wyoming. In December of the previous year, Lake was sentenced to a year in prison for disabling emission control systems on numerous heavy-duty trucks. According to Senator Lummis, the legislation could lead to Lake’s release and the expungement of his conviction.

Lummis expressed her concerns regarding the EPA, stating: “The Biden EPA threw Troy Lake and other mechanics in prison for keeping essential vehicles, like school buses and ambulances, operational in extreme weather conditions.” She criticized what she views as overreach by federal agencies and emphasized the need for accountability from Congress.

Impact on Other Convicted Mechanics

If the Diesel Truck Liberation Act becomes law, other individuals like Jonathan Achtemeier would also benefit. Achtemeier, who received a four-month prison sentence and a $25,000 fine for modifying truck engines to bypass emissions regulations, could see his conviction wiped clean.

The proposed changes have sparked a debate about the balance between environmental regulations and the practical needs of rural mechanics and truck operators.

As discussions continue, this legislation represents a significant shift in how emissions-related modifications to heavy-duty trucks could be treated under federal law.