Paul Pearson continuing legal fight over electric vehicle conversions
Lola EV - click above for a high-res gallery
Last week, Paul Pearson went back to court. It was the fifth time he's been in front of a judge because of a police sting last December over the electric car conversions he was doing in his garage (details here). In short, the situation is wholly confusing, but also quite important for fans of electric vehicles.
Pearson called AutoblogGreen after his court appearance and gave us a recap on what happened. According to Pearson, the prosecutor asked that the charge against Pearson be amended to reflect only "agreement" that Pearson would convert a gas-only Ford Thunderbird to all-electric drive (again, see our original post here). Pearson and his lawyer had the prosecutor talk to Rodney Aoki at the Sacramento DMV, who said there is no law on the books saying converting cars to electric drive is illegal. Then, the prosecutor asked the judge to amend the charge to reflect that Pearson's website says he'll manufacture a car for you, but that Pearson doesn't have a license. Pearson told AutoblogGreen that his website doesn't say that, and that he hasn't altered the website in any way since the undercover sting. "You can look at it and judge for yourself," he said.
The story continues after the jump.
Gallery: AltCar 2008: Electric Custom Cars
[Source: Paul Pearson]
Pearson said that, while this case is a hassle for him, there are larger issues at stake here that make him willing to keep fighting. The most important issue is figuring out who regulates the EV conversion business. Peason has no idea. "It's a totally unregulated area," he said. For a long, long time, it hasn't been more than a backyard thing. In the last few years, with the increase in interest, there is a lot of legal confusion and groping around. Pearson, who is connected to the LA and San Diego electric car communities, said this case is important to figuring out what the rules are for converting a car to electric drive for money.
The case against Pearson was originally brought by the DMV and is now being handled by the City of Santa Monica. Pearson said that, "The judge is pissed off at all of us for not coming to an agreement on something so simple" but that "the neverending stupidness of the prosecutor" is continuing the legal proceedings. For some reason, the prosecutor just won't let this go, Pearson said. "The one thing we can figure is that he's worried he'll get sued for mis-prosecution." The next court date has been set for the 8th of June
Pearson is also working on the Lola EV (pictured). More information on that car here. We have contacted other people involved in this case but have not heard back. If we do, we'll let you know.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
blackstripe77 7:53AM (5/19/2009)
Aren't Teslas and Dodge Circuits basically Lotus Elise and Europa conversions?
Reply
tankd0g 8:02AM (5/19/2009)
And Tesla had to go through extensive crash testing, and the Dodge..doesn't exist.
John 7:39AM (5/19/2009)
The question that needs to be asked is how do these conversions effect vehicle safety?
When you start changing the powertrain, it will change the airbag sensor calibrations because the mass and stack-up properties of the powertrain are different in a crash.
In this mad rush to be "green", questions like this that involve people's safety are being ignored.
Reply
paul pearson 9:50AM (5/19/2009)
The prosecutor has now been told by the dmv main office in Sacramento(Ca.) and the CHP (So.Cal.headquarters in Culver City) their are no Regs. on Electric vehicle conversion.All my new cars are safety certified by the CHP and are for personal use only ,not for sale.As far as electric conversions the CHP view is do not cut into or alter the chassis,do not increase the weight and do not change the interior saftey features.Beyond these basics there are no rules written about EV conversion.The CHP is in charge of vehicle safety here,not the Santa Monica City Atty. Now the City Atty. Is grabbing a straws to find something to save face,saying my web site electriccustomcars.com is soliciting to build new vehicles which I am not YET licenced to do(soon will be)
Reply
dv 10:18AM (5/19/2009)
Its important to understand that a conversion is something done to a car that is sold as a used vehicle. There is no degree of measure that would say any aftermarket modification is illegal because it could adversely affect the performance of the safety equipment. Look at all the fools driving around in 20+ inch rim using OEM brakes, not to mention all the other modifications to vehcile people make these days. Again, it doesn't matter if it changes the sensors - its aftermarket work that is completely unregulated. What is at question is whether his actions are interpreted as remanufacturing (therefore selling as new) or doing an actual conversion (aftermarket changes being sold as used). That is how I understand the case in the most general sense.
Reply
Korla Pundit 1:39PM (5/19/2009)
So what's this prosecutor's motivation? Who's pushing him to obsess on this and why?
Reply
Apogee 9:29PM (5/19/2009)
By all means, don't let anyone convert a car to electric. That would be a disaster. If it is allowed, then it should be incredibly expensive.
Who do these people think they are, living their life without permission?
Reply
tim maguire 1:17PM (5/19/2009)
It's pretty remarkable that the judge hasn't at least admonished the prosectuor for using a kitchen sink approach. Most judges do not take kindly to this sort of abuse--just keep throwing out theories of the case in the hopes that eventually one will stick.
Reply
Rob Crawford 6:40PM (5/19/2009)
The comment about these conversions being a "totally unregulated area" misses the point -- what right does the state have to regulate it in the first place? You've said the CHP certifies for safety issues; I'm sure you and your customers have contracts detailing what the expect to be done.
Both the DMV and the city attorney should be sanctioned. Heck, the city attorney should be disbarred for abuse of the system.
Reply
TripDave 1:54PM (5/19/2009)
It's the "Peoples Republic of Santa Monica" you expect anything less from
the Uber-Liberal city? Most of the inane city ordinances and laws like rent control and
ADA compliant private homes to high "Living Wage" rates are feel good measures with
disastrous real world results.
Reply
paul pearson 1:59PM (5/19/2009)
We don't know his motivation.He is a City of Santa Monica deputy City Atty.who inherited this case from the Department of Motor Vehicles,thats how they prosecute in California.I have applied for a bussiness licence in S.M. to solve one part of this case,but have been denied after paying 527$ fee due to there being no catagory for electric car conversions.So I moved to The City of Los Angeles where all fair in love and war.The City of S.M has now contacted me about being part of their electric Conversion Fed. Stimulous package
,I swear this is true on the life of my two dogs, Bonzo & Lola,We return to court June 8 for round Six...PP
Reply
Dana H. 2:04PM (5/19/2009)
Heh. Looks like the greens got the Big Brother government they've been asking for.
Reply
Dana H. 2:08PM (5/19/2009)
(Having said that, I feel for Paul Pearson, who looks like he's just trying to run a business.)
RR Ryan 3:01PM (5/19/2009)
I lived in Santa Monica for years. This is not surprising.
Reply
Oops 3:37PM (5/19/2009)
Hi Paul! I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you!
Reply
John 4:16PM (5/19/2009)
If our present form of government uber alles mentality existed when Henry Ford was alive, we would all still be riding horses.
We MUST STOP our government from controlling EVERYTHING.
Reply
Anne 5:51PM (5/19/2009)
Unbelievable, the time and money wasted on this case!!!!! What is the City of Santa Monica thinking? I am even more embarassed for the Assistant Deputy City Attorney, who seems to be graspiing at straws....I mean really! The city has asked for several continuances on this case so they can get their thoughts together. What a waste of time and effort that could be used for this guy to take us into the next century.
From what I know about Paul, his family have been in the car business for many years. Paul worked for George Barris as a youngster growing into manhood (Batmobile, Beverly Hill Billy's vehicle, a variety of cars for the likes of Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Sly Stone). His family have been Crew Chiefs for the Andretti's. I can't think of anyone more qualified to bring us into world of the non-polluting, perhaps self-sustaining vehicles, then this guy. What a waste.
Reply
Mario 5:53PM (5/19/2009)
It makes me wonder what would have happened if Bill Gates started Microsoft in the City of Santa Monica..........breathtaking incompetence on the part of the City of Santa Monica
Reply
John C. Randolph 9:42PM (5/19/2009)
I wish I could say this surprised me.
The boundless stupidity of professional busybodies is one of the best arguments for libertarianism.
-jcr
Reply
john 8:38PM (5/19/2009)
Totally hilarious. Good thing there weren't genius prosecutors around to arrest Henry Ford for unregulated conversion of horseless carriages. So easy to find a reason to stop the smallest innovations.
Reply