$560,000 Fine for Catalytic Converter Maker in Rancho Santa Margarita

A Rancho Santa Margarita company that makes catalytic converters has been fined more than half a million dollars for air quality violations, according to the Central Valley Business Times.

The California Air Resources Board fined Car Sound Exhaust Inc. $560,000 in the wake of an industry-wide investigation that revealed that it sold, offered for sale, and/or advertised 3,982 non-California certified catalytic converters between January 2005 and March 2010, according to the CARB.

"There are instances where companies are not aware of ARB’s requirements," said James Ryden, the CARB enforcement chief. "And while this doesn’t excuse them from complying, any company found in violation that cooperates to bring its products quickly into compliance scores a victory for public health."

Car Sound Exhaust will make monthly payments of $23,333 through March 2013. CSE also agreed to set in place a comprehensive compliance plan so that no future violations occur.

Car Sound Exhaust is the developer of MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust products.

According to CARB, vehicles that do not meet California's emission requirements create more smog-forming pollutants, which can exacerbate respiratory ailments and negatively affect other health conditions and cause shortness of breath, headaches, birth defects, cancer or damage to internal organs.