Honda fined $70M for not reporting 1,700 death and injury complaints spanning a decade

• Honda was fined $35 million for not reporting the death and injury complaints 

• And another $35 million for not reporting the warranty and customer satisfaction claims

• The Honda complaints include incidents related to air bags

• Honda has recalled more than 5 million vehicles in the U.S. since 2008 

The Obama administration is fining Honda $70 million for not reporting to regulators some 1,729 complaints that its vehicles caused deaths and injuries, and for not reporting warranty claims.The fine marks the largest civil penalty levied against an automaker.The Japanese company acknowledged in November that it failed to report the death and injury complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over an 11-year period beginning in 2003. Honda admitted it learned of the omissions in 2011 but had waited three years to take action. 

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The Obama administration will fine Honda $70 million - the largest civil penalty leveled against an automaker (Honda headquarters in Tokyo, Japan pictured)The company also failed to report certain warranty claims and claims under customer satisfaction campaigns throughout the same period, federal officials said. The safety administration is imposing twin fines - $35 million for not reporting the death and injury complaints, and another $35 million for not reporting the warranty and customer satisfaction claims. Both fines are the maximums the agency is legally allowed to impose. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the fines reflect the government's determination to take a tough stance against automakers who withhold safety information from regulators.'What we cannot tolerate and will not tolerate is an automaker failing to report to us any recall issues,' Foxx saidThe Honda complaints include incidents related to air bags made by Japanese auto supplier Takata Corp., as well as other defective parts. Honda has recalled more than 5 million vehicles in the U.S. since 2008 to fix a potentially fatal defect in Takata-made air bags. The air bag inflators can rupture after a crash and injure occupants with shards of metal.Foxx said information about Honda's failure to disclose the death and injury complaints also has been forwarded to the Justice Department. The Center for Auto Safety, a consumer watchdog group, called for a criminal investigation of Honda after the company's failure to disclose the complaints became public.

Readers sound off on Lady Gaga, the presidential debate and abortion

MATTEO BAZZI/EPA

Lady Gaga (right) and fashion designer Donatella Versace in Milan, Italy, on Oct. 1.

Lady Gaga’s wisdom on weed
Brooklyn: The May-December conflict between Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro and Lady Gaga reflects quintessential differences between 20th and 21st century attitudes toward marijuana and the entire drug war (“Staten Island Borough Prez calls Lady Gaga ‘a slut,’ ” NYDailyNews.com, Sept. 25). For those who came of age during the Cold War, as Molinaro did, the paranoia of the Red Scare became focused on a new enemy within: the dope fiend. I believe this is why Molinaro used a schoolyard epithet in his ungentlemanly outburst at the Queen of Pop. Lady Gaga, by contrast, was born in 1986, the beginning of the crack era. Her attitudes toward drugs are pragmatic and rational. In her recent statements, she correctly observed that smoking marijuana is much safer than drinking alcohol. Lady Gaga deserves to be lauded for common sense and bravery, not pilloried by an out-of-touch politician. Kenneth S. Toglia
Beating up the moderator
Forest Hills: Mitt Romney bullied Jim Lehrer so much, I thought he was going to cut his hair. Alan Hirschberg
Landslide for Mitt
Cincinnati: Mitt Romney so thoroughly dominated President Obama in the first debate that I suspect he would have won the swimsuit competition had there been one. Paul Bloustein
Mitt’s small idea
Mohegan Lake, N.Y.: Funding for PBS accounts for .0002% of the federal budget. That means that if your average federal taxes per year are $8,000, then $1.60 goes to support PBS. So, Mitt Romney’s grand plan to get us out of debt is to fire Big Bird and save $1.60? Genius. Super genius. Michael W. Domis
Barack’s bad night
Brooklyn: After his performance at Wednesday’s debate, Barack and Michelle Obama spent the evening of their 20th wedding anniversary dancing to: “There may be trouble ahead. Let’s face the music and dance.” Time for the President to do a little more studying and less fund-raising with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. It might even pay off for him to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at this time. Ed Greenspan
Running on empty
Newark: In order to have a debate, both parties have to argue their point of view and at least back it up with facts. Mitt Romney may have been more animated, but in substance, he lost. David Figueroa
Out of his depth
Brooklyn: The liberal media can no longer cover up President Obama’s failure as a leader. It was totally evident that he was unprepared in the debate with Mitt Romney. Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. Obama should go back to the classroom. Being President means hard work and being committed to the job every day. Leading from behind is not leading at all. It is only an excuse. A leader is out front. Mark Levine

Secret Service Scandal: President Obama Will ‘Be Angry’ If Allegations Prove True

President Barack Obama spoke at a press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos earlier today and said that he expects a “thorough and rigorous” investigation into the allegations of misconduct which have resulted in an on-going Secret Service scandal which continues to embarrass the United States.  Obama was quoted by CBS News having said:

“Of course I’ll be angry [if the allegations are true]“

While the president never specified the allegations, which have been confirmed by numerous media outlets, he did confirm that those individuals who have been placed on leave failed to conduct themselves at a level which is coincident with what is expected of agents representing the United States.  To quote President Obama:

“Obviously, what’s been reported doesn’t match up to those standards.”

For those who haven’t been keeping up with the unfolding U.S. Secret Service scandal, it is alleged that at least one prostitute visited with at least one agent.  There are additional allegations of heavy alcohol consumption for the duration of their stay.  According to a Colombian police report, which was taken as the incident involved a foreign national, a prostitute refused to leave the hotel until paid for services rendered.

Obama stated that if the allegations were true, you would be angry.  To quote the president:

“I expect that investigation to be thorough, and I expect it to be rigorous. If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, then of course I’ll be angry. [...] We are representing the people of the United States, and when we travel to another country, I expect us to observe the highest standards.”

What are your thoughts on the developing scandal involving prostitutes and agents with the prestigious United States Secret Service?

Barack Obama sings LMFAO’s Sexy And I Know It!

Apart from Robbie Williams’ lovely baby news, celebs are (whispers it) being a bit dull today, so it’s time for something silly and fun. It’s a Friday after all…

If you’re counting the seconds until it beer 0’Clock, here’s a way for you to fool your boss into thinking you’re staring at your computer and focusing on work, when actually you’re wasting time and having a giggle. It's Barack Obama "singin" LMFAO's Sexy And I Know it.

Just try not to LOL in the middle of the office, that’s a dead give away.