I guess Homeland Security is doing their job....

I first saw this on the Japlopnik FB feed, but then decided to read the actual article, since they are an automotive gossip site.

Basically, Homeland Security is rounding up the illegally imported cars and it looks like they are now going to start destroying them.

However, as much as I hate the 25 year import rule, it sounds like this 2000 Mini Cooper had it coming. It had a 1988 VIN swapped on it and somebody picked up that it had the wrong engine and it had an airbag. Now it sounds like all those Land Rovers they found are going to meet the same fate.

I guess the DHS is doing their job, but it does seem to be a waste of money and time.

Here's the Articles:

Jalopnik Article

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/newjersey/2014/12/austin_mini_cooper_destroyed_i.html

Now for the carnage:

In reply to SyntheticBlinkerFluid:

Well, the whole "swap a vin from a 240sx onto a skyline" thing has been the practice for awhile.....which means they'll all be crushed when found. Its also been part of the problem leading to these reactions.

Oops. I blame MotoRex for pissing in the punch bowl first. (Disclaimer, I realize it's probably not them, but hey, that's what came to mind and is one of the more known examples of fudging import paperwork for cars.)

It's because crushing a classic Mini is way easier than actually securing the border.

I feel so much safer now with that Terror car off the road!

Personally, I think they should crush all German Minis with Union Jacks on them as a penalty for false advertising.

Grm filter messed up one of the links.

The podium is a nice touch.

Meh, Dumb ass imports car, does stupid crap to try to tag it. If they crush enough of them people will eventually get the message and stop with the stupid crap. They should make the owners stand there and watch.

Don't like the law? Call your congress critter. If you throw more money at him than the rest of the lobbyist do, you can buy his vote too.

Seems we've already had this discussion.

bgkast wrote: Grm filter messed up one of the links. The podium is a nice touch.

Fixed

Why is this in Homeland Security's job description? How many agents are devoted to this, instead of pursuing/verifying terrorists?

I think they have folded a bunch of the enforcement into HS. Their new uniforms should be in soon and the name change in in the works. It's only one little letter.

Toyman01 wrote: Seems we've already had this discussion.

Many, many times. I got called a lot of not very nice names for pointing out how illegal it was years ago and then called other names for not reporting every one I ever saw on eBay. People are jerks.

As for the discussion, as I've said before, the law is really easy to follow. 25 years or on the exemption list, bring it in. Otherwise, forget it or write your congressperson.

In other news, only one of the Minis on eBay right now is an obvious revin. The Land Rover sellers haven't got the message yet, though.

Ironically, the 2000 Mini they destroyed was probably safer than a legit 1988 would have been.

For those who say its a waste of government time and money...

How much popularity is this story getting? How many illegal vehicles are going to be disuaded from being brought in illegally because "hey, they will crush it, remember that article!?!?"

Waste of money indeed.

Yup, its a shame that people break the law with cool stuff. But smuggled goods (which due to misrepresentation these are!) have to be seized (if not, whats to stop them?) and this is a publicity stunt TO KEEP MORE PEOPLE FROM BREAKING THE LAW!

If you dont like the law, write your congressperson. Will accomplish more than complaining on the internet.

Changing a VIN is a federal crime btw. look it up. you can go to jail for that stuff. I seem to remember a company that was cranking out Elanor (gone in 60 sec) replicas that was playing fast and loose with VINs and suffered for it.

DHS is a combination of Border Patrol, Immigration, and Customs.
This is specifically their job. Don't let the (stupid) new name fool you.

Apexcarver wrote: If you dont like the law, write your congressperson. Will accomplish more than complaining on the internet. Changing a VIN is a federal crime btw. look it up. you can go to jail for that stuff. I seem to remember a company that was cranking out Elanor (gone in 60 sec) replicas that was playing fast and loose with VINs and suffered for it.

Actually I have written my congressperson(s) a couple times. Probably will do it again.

I know VIN swapping is illegal, that's why I said the Mini had it coming, somebody caught it.

So rather than put a new 'approved' VIN on it and auction it off, we'll just destroy a peice of art? Waste.

In reply to Gearheadotaku:

This is strictly a deterrent. Anyone with half a brain, that loves cars, won't take the chance of causing one to be destroyed.

Public hangings use to serve the same purpose.

Toyman01 wrote: I think they have folded a bunch of the enforcement into HS. Their new uniforms should be in soon and the name change in in the works. It's only one little letter.

It' a done deal. Just that most people inside the fishbowl are not aware.

Don't forget they have the Coast Guard too, and due to some esoteric old laws Coasties can search a vehicle without probable cause or a warrant. That's why, once in a while, you see a Coast Guard uniform at a truck weigh station or border patrol post.

Gearheadotaku wrote: So rather than put a new 'approved' VIN on it and auction it off, we'll just destroy a peice of art? Waste.

i don't think i'd consider a Mini of any kind to be "art".. but that's my issue, not yours..

and as far as the law is concerned, a vehicle is just a "thing"...

Will wrote: Why is this in Homeland Security's job description? How many agents are devoted to this, instead of pursuing/verifying terrorists?

Because no one questions the Gestapo

Toyman01 wrote:

You leave Chevy out of this.

Guy on a local VW site had his 1983 Range Rover 110 seized by 10 agents of Homeland Security, apparently it was imported illegally. Grey Market?

He's in the same boat as someone in possession of stolen property, you won't see a dime.

I didn't read much of the riots thread, but enough of it to see that many thought that if one does not want overly violent response from the police, then don't break the law. Somewhat justifying someone dying for selling lose cigarettes.

But when it comes to something you are interested in, it's bad that any enforcement at all happens.

For the most part, the same basic laws forbid importing ilegal cars as lose cigarettes- start with the import tax. One it's ok to kill for, the other it's horrible that they crush the cars.

ok....

I don't get some of you guys at all.

In reply to alfadriver:

I'll bite, it was the resisting arrest that got him killed. Not the selling of illegal things.

I think they should round up all of the illegal cars and deport them. There is a process for coming to his country legally and those that chose to bypass that process should go to the back of the line.