Ferrari hit with $3.5 million fine

Federal auto safety regulators have levied a $3.5 million penalty against Ferrari because it failed to submit reports of fatal accidents to the government.

Under a system called Early Warning Reporting, automakers are required to disclose claims they receive that blame vehicle defects for serious injuries or deaths.

"There is no excuse for failing to follow laws created to keep drivers safe," Anthony R. Foxx, secretary of transportation, said Friday.

Krista Florin, a Ferrari spokes­woman, said that the failure to comply with the reporting requirements was "inadvertent" and that the company is adopting new procedures to ensure compliance.

On July 2 two lawmakers wrote to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is overseen by the Transportation Department, to express concerns about the Early Warning Reporting system and pointed out Ferrari’s failure to report the accidents. The letter was written by Sens. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Richard Blu­men­thal, D-Conn.

A proposal before Congress, promoted by the safety agency, would raise the penalty ceiling in future cases to $300 million.

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