Tech & Auto
The Fallout From West Coast Choppers Biggest Controversies
By JOE CAPRARO
Since first appearing in Monster Garage in 2002 Jesse James of West Coast Choppers was no stranger to controversies and faced multiple scandals during his career.
James married actor Sandra Bullock in 2005 after two years of dating, but they divorced in 2010 after several women said they had affairs with him.
James and his motorcycle customization shop also ran afoul of the California Air Relations Board (CARB) in 2007 for the sale of more than 50 non-compliant motorcycles.
Ultimately, the matter was settled with James paying a fine of more than $270,000. However, he blames the CARB for not notifying him of changes in emission laws.
In 2004, the Simi Valley School district banned students from wearing West Coast Choppers merchandise, saying the Iron Cross logo was similar to that used by white power groups.
Making matters worse, a photo of him surfaced wearing a Nazi hat and raising his right arm in a salute, though his attorney says it was a gag gift from James’ Jewish grandfather.
The publicity from the multiple scandals finally came to be too much for James, and he closed the doors of the Long Beach West Coast Choppers shop in 2010.