LANSING, Mich. (May 15, 2002) — Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm has filed felony charges against a Remus, Mich., man who illegally sold used Firestone tires with their U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) identification numbers removed.
Bridgestone/Firestone employees discovered the illegal sales over the Internet and alerted Ms. Granholm's office, the DOT and the Michigan State Police. "We're very supportive of this action," a BFS spokeswoman said. "This is also a safety issue, because in removing the DOT number, you leave a four-inch gouge in the sidewall that of course weakens the sidewall."
The tires involved in the case were among the 13 million Ford Motor Co. removed from service last year as part of a consumer satisfaction program, Ms. Granholm's office stated in a May 15 press release.