TTAC's flagged this issue before: as The Big 2.8 shutter factories, they're on the hook for cleaning-up decades of extremely toxic pollution. In fact, the costs of said clean-up could well run into the billions. StarTribune.com reports that the controversy surrounding the pollution left behind in Ford's soon-to-be-defunct factory in the Highland Park part of St. Paul, Minnesota continues. At a neighborhood meeting, Ford told approximately 50 local residents that the extent of the problem requires more testing and analysis. Ford plans to close the 138-acre truck assembly site in 2009, a year later than originally planned. Even so, "City planner Merritt Clapp-Smith said that the 2009 closure has pushed back everything [in terms of local redevelopment] and that the city won't be comfortable recommending a redevelopment option until after testing has been done, which could be in 2010." 

See? I knew this video box thing would come in handy again. Obviously, we need someone to scan and blog YouTube on TTAC's behalf (robert.farago@thetruthaboutcars.com). Meanwhile Frank ran into this gem of a site while looking for the official EPA mpgs for the Hummer H2. Did you know the mondo-SUV is still exempt from EPA mpg requirements (it gets "around" 10 – 12 mpg)? I bet the impolite webslingers at FUH2.com do. After all, the site's strapline and pretty permalink both read "Fuck You and Your H2." Their beef? "While our brothers and sisters are off in the Middle East risking their lives to secure America's fossil fuel future, H2 drivers are pissing away our 'spoils of victory' during each trip to the grocery store." More specifically, they claim the H2 is a polluter (producing "3.4 metric tons of carbon emissions in a typical year, nearly double that of G.M.'s Chevrolet Malibu sedan"), a death machine ("You'd better hope that you don't collide with an H2 in your economy car. You can kiss your ass goodbye thanks to the H2's massive weight and raised bumpers") and, most aggravatingly of all, a tax loophole ("Under the current tax laws, business owners can deduct nearly half the cost of their H2s"). Anyway, there's a certain monotony to the 4470 pics of one-finger saluted H2s, but we like page 355. What do the Padres have to do with this?

The Winnipeg Free Press reports a Manitoba court ordered four “chronic” car thieves to attend counseling sessions, to learn the error of their ways. Plainclothes police re-arrested three of the teens minutes after their first session at the Winnipeg Training for Youth (TRY) program ended. You guessed it: they were about to drive off in a stolen car. The youths, aged 16 and 17, told officers they went to class in a hot car because it was "too cold to walk." (NPR reports that it was “40 below” in Winnipeg that day.) “Police said this is the first case they've seen where people allegedly stole a car so they could attend programming to learn about not stealing cars.” Uh-oh. Does that mean the story fails the modern media test (i.e. all bad news must represent a trend)? Not if you stretch… "This is what's pandemic in the whole auto-theft culture,” Crown attorney Scott Cooper announced. “These kids just don't think it's a big deal.” Gee, I wonder why…

An Allstate Insurance press release informs us that Texas' second largest insurer (damn!) saw vehicle thefts climb 11 percent in 2007. Apparently, SUVs (up 22 percent) and trucks (up 17 percent) formed a "large portion" of these boosted vehicles. The vehicles are a victim of their own utility– and Texas' porous borders. "'The majority of stolen full-size trucks and SUVs are taken into Mexico and used to transport narcotics and human smuggling. After that, these vehicles are stripped, used for parts or sold to unsuspecting buyers in Mexico and the U.S.,' said Officer Steve Plummer with the El Paso County Auto Burglary and Theft Prevention Taskforce. 'The size, carrying capacity, off- road capability, monetary value and availability of large trucks and SUVs will continue to make these vehicles prime targets for thieves.'" Allstate also reports that The Lone Star State's biggest losers are the Ford F-250 and 350 pick-ups (truck category) and… drum roll please… the Acura Integra! And there we were, dissing Acura. Shame on us! 

You know the old joke that ends "We've already established what you are. We're just haggling over price"? Same deal here. Despite public outcry that forced Mayor Bloomberg to make congestion charging someone else's fault– a 17 member commission– The New York Times wants to keep the "dream" alive. Apparently, congestion charging is THE answer to gridlock. "London proved as much when it adopted congestion pricing, charging drivers to use certain streets. Traffic moved faster, tailpipe emissions went down and the fees collected went to improve public transportation." Uh, no. No. And no. While The Old Gray Lady is ready for NYC motorists to lay down (bend over?) for a regressive tax/PC money grab, the newspaper of record doesn't like "the unworkable suggestion of rationing entry to the city each day based on the last digit of license plates. There are other duds, including the idea — sure to die in Albany — of putting tolls on toll-free bridges over the East and Harlem Rivers. An $8 surcharge on taxi rides, part of another proposal, is another nonstarter." Those crazy commissioners, eh? And the winner is… forcing "most cars $8 and trucks $21 to drive on the city’s busiest streets during weekdays." Fare enough?

CNN says it began with trash talking. It ended with Gavin Simcoe’s 1993 Civic EX leaving a straight, two-lane road at more than 100mph and crashing at the bottom of an embankment. As always, CNN portrays a bit of bad (if spectacular) news as part of a dangerous and growing trend. Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller provides the requisite quote: "The last four years it's been out of control.” Worse than before? Bryan C. Harrison, president of Evo Street Racers, shrugs his media-friendly shoulders. And anyway, he says, nothing short of a million police officers– yes, a million– can stop street racing. “Everyone knows that won't happen.” Meanwhile, out in Pasadena, so-not-a-little-old-lady Johnny Wong (if racing you is right…) says car crushing has had a damping effect on street duels. But not much. "Making all these laws— to me it's pointless, because the more boundaries you put up, the more people want to race.” Police are betting that Mr. Wong is wrong about the inverse effect of reverse psychology. Ye Olde cat and mouse game continues.

Sharp-eared listeners to the TTAC daily podcast know that Justin shares his life with a number of canine companions. Single-minded bastard that I am, I've never asked my colleague how many dogs are in situ (situ!), their names or occupations. But I do know that Justin's father is a veterinarian. So clearly, Justin's a dog person and a pistonhead. As such, Justin does not follow the piss-poor example of pop star princess Britney Spears. He doesn't drive with a dog on his lap. Now I know that a mini-rant on the dangers of driving with a domesticated pet perched on your private parts doesn't really qualify for TTAC's hard-edged tell-it-like-it is news, views and reviews coverage; but this really sticks in my proverbial craw. If your local state government can (and does) ban drivers from talking on their cell whilst automobiling, why would they let license holders pilot a couple of tons of metal with a simple-minded animal (sorry Rosie) between them and the car's major controls? Come to think of it, I wonder if our spiritual leader, ex-Car & Driver editor and part-time paramedic Stephen Wilkinson can tell us what happens when an airbag explodes into a dog sitting on a driver or passenger's lap? Or, more generally, what happens when a front seat passenger gets hit with an unsecured pet flying through the air at 50 or 60 mph? Seriously folks, get a pet seat belt. Or, potentially, die. 

According to Harlingen Texas police (via the Valley Morning Star), it was a “routine” traffic stop– until they ran the usual license check. They discovered that Valerie Ortiz Sanchez had 76 outstanding traffic warrants and more than $15k in unpaid fines, stretching back some nine years. When Sanchez was brought before Municipal Court Judge Valerie Garcia, the judge needed nearly 20 minutes to read the list of charges (including drunk driving). The judge then dismissed some of the outdated, outstanding warrants, “reducing” total fines and fees owed to $15,696. Moments after paying the fines and leaving the Harlingen city jail, Sanchez was arrested by police from San Benito. Officials there say Sanchez has at least 10 outstanding warrants and owes $2,718 in fines and court fees dating back to 2007. “Basically, driving is a privilege not a right and it can be revoked,” proclaimed Harlingen police spokesman David Osborne. Basically, but not specifically.

OK, not literally "lost." More like "totaled." No matter how you parse it, Automotive News [sub] reports that King Triton wasn't happy with the ship carrying the very first batch of 1-Series and M3s headed stateside from the Fatherland. On January 11, a storm knocked the heavy metal loose to play a driverless game of German bumper cars and salvage parts. "Of the 470 vehicles on board, 120 were damaged beyond repair and will have to be scrapped. The others will be repaired, said a BMW spokesman." While one wonders if the customers for those repaired Bimmers will be told of the damage, the automaker is busy trying to figure out if the accident will affect the models' March launch date. 6Speedonline has the gruesome gallery for those of you who can't get enough wrecked exotics, or wait for Autoblog.  

CNN reports on a gathering of more than 40 of Prius-driving “mileage maniacs” near Tokyo. During this rolling geekfest, Takashi Toya (a.k.a. “The Shogun”) showcases his plug-in rechargeable Prius. Toya's also tricked his Prius' ECU into thinking the gasoline engine is warmed up (when it’s not) so it can run on battery power right from the git-go. So, how far can a Prius take you on a single fill up? The self-proclaimed “world record holder” says she got 1.5k miles (2500 Km) out of a single tank of gas. Well, that and battery power. After the gathering, the group “raced” their Prioras to find out who can use the least fuel. As a counterpoint, we offer one Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Sports Illustrated, Mr. James was recently clocked driving his 2008 Mercedes Benz at 101mph on I71 near Medina, Ohio. The incident occurred at 2:34 A.M. on December 30, on his 23rd birthday. Happy birthday. Sign here.

CNN reports that Jane Hambleton of Fort Dodge Iowa discovered booze stashed under the driver’s seat of her 19-year-old son’s car. Hambleton immediately placed this for-sale ad in a local newspaper: “OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.” Prospective used-car buyers aside, Hambleton says she’s received more than 70 phone calls from the likes of emergency room technicians, nurses and even school counselors who phoned in to congratulate her for being a “responsible parent.” The hapless teenager– who claims the alcohol was left in his car by a passenger– is "very, very unhappy."  While the car has been sold, Hambleton is letting the ad run an extra week. Common sense from the nation’s heartland.

Thinking about taking a road trip this year? Not so fast Bucko! No, really. Not so fast– especially if you're going to be traveling the I-95 corridor in the eastern U.S. Forbes has compiled a list of the ten most expensive states for speeding tickets, and half of them are along I-95. Virginia, the only newcomer to the list, jumps directly to the top. While NHTSA says the national median for a first offender is about $200, lead-footed drivers in the Old Dominion State can be hit with an incredible $1,350 fine for their first offense, thanks to a $1,050 surcharge added last year. The most expensive places to get stopped for speeding and their maximum fine for the first offense are:

Virginia – $1,350
Georgia – $1,000
Illinois – $1,000
Nevada – $1,000
New Hampshire – $1,000
North Carolina – $1,000
Utah – $750
Oregon – $600
Kansas – $500
Maryland – $500

Money.net reports that various U.K. authorities have destroyed some 45k uninsured vehicles during the first nine months of '07. Which is OK with Nick Starling, director of general insurance at the Association of British Insurers. "These figures show that the determination of the insurance industry and the police to drive them [uninsured motorists] from our roads is beginning to bear fruit." The Manchester Evening News says their local constabulary can claim 10k of that total. "Since January 2006 we have seized more than 25,000 vehicles," boasts Sgt Mark Beales of the Greater Manchester Police's traffic section. "We will continue to ensure there is no hiding place for those who break the law." While the Association of British Drivers (ABD) doesn't dispute the police's right to confiscate uninsured motorists' vehicles, ABD Environment spokesman Ben Adams argues "This government is so venomously anti-car, that confiscated vehicles are thoughtlessly crushed out of sheer spite. They claim the environment to be their top priority yet it appears they are encouraging the mindless destruction of huge resources of used parts that could be recycled and destroying serviceable cars." Fair dues?

People who buy SUVs because they think the extra ground clearance gives them a better vantage point in traffic are at risk of losing their catalytic converters for the same reason. The Los Angeles Times reports that catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed over the festive season; high-rise vehicles are the targets of choice. The Times says the platinum-rich converter, valued at $40-50 by scrap-metal dealers, is gone in 90 seconds. In the past month, thefts were reported in Los Angeles, Pasadena, the Bay Area, Sacramento, Seattle, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Tennessee. Since there are no serial numbers or any other identifying marks on the converters, nabbing the thieves requires catching them in the act. Crime-prevention experts recommend parking in a garage (thanks). Alternatively, you can weld the converter to the exhaust system to foil the socket-wrench-wielding thieves– and thusly avoid a $1k replace and repair bill.