Illegal devices that bypass vehicle emissions controls spread across US

Thousands of tons of pollution spew into the air in the US from devices that proliferate online and in body shops

• This story is co-published with FairWarning

When officials at the Environmental Protection Agency began investigating Freedom Performance, LLC, they didn't have to look very hard for evidence that the company was violating the Clean Air Act. According to legal documents, the Florida car parts distributor literally advertised violations on its website.

The road to hell is often paved with good intentions," stated one ad for a kit to remove federally required emissions controls from diesel trucks. It identified a particular emissions control system that is certainly noble in its intent" but in reality it is putting your engine through hell ... The best solution is deletion."