For anyone who isn't aware, the EPA has seriously increased their enforcement actions against "emissions defeat devices" over the past 5 years.

The case that put the issue on most people's radar was Evan's Tuning, which was a major dyno tuner for import cars. Not only did EPA cite 298 violations of the clean air act against the owner (with a net penalty of about $1 million), they also demanded all customer data and sales for the previous 3 years. Just prior to this, Cobb Tuning and a few other similar tuning outfits were raided by EPA for the same reasons.

In all cases, this enforcement action isn't against large shops, dealers, or marques. Instead, EPA is going after small tuners and builders that sell enthusiast products to a niche market. Products in this realm are always advertised as "off-road use only," but rather than placing liability on anyone who misuses them, EPA is simply going after the source and shutting down the manufacturers, one-by-one.

Like most government action, this isn't accomplishing anything other than an attempt to justify EPA spending. Tuned cars, or in this case V8 Miatas, aren't fleet vehicles and aren't going to do many miles in a year. They're going to get driven on a track, to a car meet, or on the occasional sunny day. It's nonsensical enforcement that lets EPA pat themselves on the back, and it's slowly destroying what's left of auto enthusiast culture.