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Mar 26, 2008 6:33 pm US/Central
Auto Workers Arrested In Fake Inspection Crackdown
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Dallas County authorities hope to clamp down on people selling phony auto inspection stickers.
A Kwik Kar Lube & Tune on Mockingbird Lane and Skillman was the target of one raid Wednesday morning.
Authorities say this is the first time they've gone after mechanics involved in, what they call, 'the biggest organized crime in Dallas County'.
If suspects weren't already at work Dallas County Constables made an unexpected house call. CBS 11 News was there as Dallas County Sheriff's and County Constables pounded on and eventually kicked in the door of one townhouse.
Six people, who work in area auto repair shops, found themselves in handcuffs in a county-wide crackdown on fake vehicle inspection stickers.
The raids followed the undercover purchases of fake inspection stickers by customers whose vehicles would otherwise fail inspection. The arrests are the first enforcement action by the Clean Air Emissions Task Force. "This is the kickoff of this program, because we are now entering into the high ozone season," explained Dallas County Judge Jim Foster. "And it is important that we get as many polluting off of these streets as possible."
Authorities believe those arrested were making up to $80,000 extra every year selling fraudulent inspections, and its possible their employers were unaware of the 'under the table' deals with customers.
"So now we're coming at it from both directions and squeezing the bad people in the middle and they're gonna pay the price," said Dallas County Constable R. L. Skinner. "Crime will not pay in Dallas County; we will have clean air."
"We need to get legislation changed where these subjects cannot get a license to be an inspector," said Dallas County Constable Michael Gothard.
The six people arrested face prison sentences of 2-20 years in prison, if convicted.
Anyone caught driving with a fake inspection sticker will have their vehicle impounded. Officials estimate that there are 300,000 vehicles on the road in Dallas County with illegally obtained inspection stickers.
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