The Ontario Ministry of the Environment obtained fines of $52,500 plus the 25% Victim Fine Surcharge against a Markham Drive Clean Facility, its owner and drive clean inspector and four of its customers for submitting false information about Drive Clean tests.
Kwok-Man (Bill) Hon was the business owner and corporate officer of Triumph Auto Centre Ltd. The company was a registered Drive Clean testing and repair facility in Markham and Mr. Hon was its accredited drive clean inspector.
Four of his customers, Garbis (Gary) Kazanjian, Hani Silbak, Chi Cheng (Victor) Tan, She Shing (Eric) Chiu and Chi Fai (Marco) Tam, arranged to or obtained false emission tests from Mr. Hon. Mr. Hon entered the false information into the emission testing computer, and sent it to an agency of the ministry.
Mr. Hon, Mr. Silbak, Mr. Kazanjian and Mr. Tam were fined a total of $47,500 plus the victim fine surcharges of $11,875. The company and Mr. Hon were given six months. The other individuals were given one year to pay the fines.
Mr. Chiu was later fined $5,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $1,250 and was given two years to pay the fine.
Drive Clean fraud is the most common type of false information submitted to the MOE. It is a serious Environmental Protection Act offence to provide false information to a provincial officer, and polluting vehicles are a major source of urban smog.