Toyota Motor Corp, was slapped with a record $17.4 million fine Tuesday by the U.S. government for failing to swiftly report problems and for delaying a safety recall, The Associated Press reported. The fine from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the fourth fine levied against Toyota in the past two years. It is also the largest fine ever assessed against a car company over safety defects. The latest fine stems from a June recall of Lexus SUVs because of a defect with the driver’s-side floor mats. The floor mats trapped the gas pedal and caused the cars to speed up without warning, which was similar to a 2010 problem that prompted a series of safety recalls. Toyota has agreed to pay the penalty, and also pledged to strengthen data collection and evaluation to make sure the company takes action more quickly. “We agreed to this settlement in order to avoid a time-consuming dispute and to focus fully on our shared commitment with NHTSA to keep drivers safe,” Ray Tanguay, the company’s chief quality officer, said in a statement. In 2010 Toyota paid two $16.4 million fines and one $16 million fine for reporting violations.
A Connecticut father is facing charges after admitting to drinking heavily and leaving his 3-year-old son in the back of his car overnight, according to police.
Jeffrey Mejias, 22, of Bridgeport, has been charged with risk of injury to a minor.
Police said Mejias admitted he had a lot to drink Friday night before going to pick up the child's mother from work early Saturday morning. Mejias brought the toddler with him.
The car got a flat tire, and Mejias got out and walked home, leaving the 3-year-old asleep in the back seat, according to police.
Police said the boy's mother found another ride home and told them she had assumed Mejias and the child were sleeping in the locked master bedroom.
She was unaware the child wasn't home when officers knocked on the door of Mejias' Arctic Street home Saturday morning, according to police.
A neighbor called 911 after noticing the child crying alone in the car around 7 a.m. Saturday, police said. The child, whose diaper was soaked through, was taken to Bridgeport Hospital to be checked out, cleaned up and fed. Police said the boy was unharmed.
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The boy was released to the care of his mother and the Department of Children and Families was notified.
Court records show Mejias was released from custody on a promise to appear in court. It's not clear if he has an attorney.
No one answered the door at his house Tuesday evening.
