Dallas County Clean Air Task Force made five arrests Wednesday

by Erin Rice

In Dallas County's effort to crack down on illegal auto emissions inspections, five arrests were made this morning at lube and tune shops around the county. Exact second-by-second details of the arrests have not been made available, but we can report that individuals working for the following locations were nabbed:

• City Tires - 10501 East Northwest Highway, Dallas, 75238 (near the Cash America Pawn)
• East Coast Motorsports - 2809 Royal Lane, Dallas, 75229
• Kwik Kar - 3224 Fitzhugh Avenue, Dallas, 75204 (near the Sigel's Liquor Store)
• Three Richards - 7007 Scyene Road, Dallas, 75227
• Kwik Kar - 6065 East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, 75206 (near the CVS)

Leading the Clean Air Emissions Task Force's work today was Sheriff Lupe Valdez with several Dallas County constables. The arrests were not necessarily made at the locations above (many were arrested at their homes) and the individuals were either owners or employees of the businesses. All arrested persons will be charged with tampering with government records, which is a 2nd degree felony that carries a penalty of 2-20 years in the pokey.

Dallas County Judge Jim Foster's office (another member of the CEA Task Force) hopes this round of arrests will serve as a kick-off for future actions helping Dallas comply with the EPA's recently lowered smog limits.

A sixth individual was arrested today, but not as part of the ongoing investigation into fraudulent inspections. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with a slew of outstanding warrants. Note to others with warrants: stop hanging out with your delinquent auto inspection buddies.

Details obtained from the Office of Judge Jim Foster