Schneiderman fines Binghamton auto-parts shop for illegal sales of salvaged car air bags

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Don’s Automotive Mall Inc. of Binghamton has agreed to pay the state a fine of $12,500 for selling salvaged automobile air bags in violation of New York law.

The penalty is part of an agreement the firm reached with investigators in the office of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, his office said in a news release issued on Monday.

Don’s Automotive Mall also agreed to maintain records of any salvaged airbags for a period of three years, Scheiderman’s office said.

The investigation revealed that Don’s Automotive sold “dozens, if not hundreds,” of airbags removed from salvaged automobiles to consumers and auto-repair shops throughout the U.S. “without first having the equipment properly tested.”

“Airbags are a critical piece of automotive safety equipment and can be the difference between life and death in a car accident,” Schneiderman said in the release. “Today’s settlement will ensure that Don’s Automotive Mall complies with state law and will prevent untested and potentially hazardous safety equipment from being used in vehicles in New York state.”

The state requires anyone attempting to sell inflatable restraint systems salvaged from another vehicle to have them certified, Schneiderman’s office said.

The certification must be according to standards “established by a nationally recognized testing, engineering and research body approved by the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles in consultation with the superintendent of the Department of Financial Services,” according to Schneiderman’s office. New York doesn’t currently have those approved standards, “rendering the sale of all salvaged airbags illegal.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com