The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has charged two South Australian operators with offences relating to illegal engine remapping.
An investigation conducted by South Australia Police (SAPOL) Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Unit (HVEU) found a South Australian produce company had ‘remapped’ the engines of four heavy vehicles to disable the vehicles’ emission limits.
The unnamed operator pleaded guilty to four charges of tampering with an emission control system fitted to a heavy vehicle and was fined $3000. They were also required to spend over $32,000 to fix the compliance issues.
A further SAPOL HVEU investigation found software and electronic equipment associated with speed limiter tampering at a South Australian transport company’s office.
The operator, also not named by the regulator in its statement today, pleaded guilty to possessing a device designed or adapted to enable speed limiter tampering was fined $1200, and was required to forfeit the equipment.
NHVR Executive Director Statutory Compliance Ray Hassall said the NHVR was working collaboratively with the heavy vehicle industry to remove engine remapping and improve safety.
“We’re currently undertaking an education campaign to highlight the harmful effects engine remapping can have on heavy vehicle drivers and logistics workers, as well as communities and the environment,” Hassall said.
“By ensuring all engines are compliant with current regulations, the transport industry can better protect the health and safety of truck drivers, the supply chain, and the general community.
“The NHVR and SAPOL regard speed limiter tampering as a serious public safety offence and we won’t hesitate to prosecute operators who ignore the law.”
The regulator kicked off a campaign around illegal engine remapping last month aimed at highlighting the health and safety risks.
Penalties for operators, executive officers and individuals caught committing these types of serious criminal offences can be up to $340,000 in fines, or five years imprisonment, and up to $3.4m in fines for a company.
For more information on illegal engine remapping, visit nhvr.gov.au/engineremapping.