Coakley
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a final judgment on Sept. 5 against a motor vehicle emissions inspector who allegedly issued dozens of inspection stickers that were fraudulent.
Rafael Duluc, the owner of Winter Street Auto Repair and Service in Haverhill, allegedly unlawfully issued at least 47 passing vehicle inspection stickers in violation of the state's Clean Air Act by conducting fraudulent emissions inspections.
Under the terms of the judgment entered on Aug. 23 in Suffolk Superior Court, Duluc is barred from deriving income from his inspection station for one year. After one year, Duluc may reapply for an inspection license.
"Inspectors who fail to properly inspect cars not only commit fraud against the public, but also circumvent the laws designed to protect the public from dangerous pollutants," Coakley said.
Coakley's office brought an action against Duluc on behalf of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Environmental Protection. The enforcement action resulted from work by the Environmental Strike Force.
Duluc's allegedly unlawful conduct led to an unfair competitive advantage over other inspection stations and inspectors that complied with the law in conducting inspections for emissions.