NHTSA is prepared to levy a $16.4 million dollar fine against Toyota because it "knowingly hid a dangerous defect" that caused sudden acceleration, according to Transporation Secretary Ray LaHood.

According to LaHood, Toyota waited at least four months before it told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about vehicle accelerator pedals that may stick.

Just when we thought the media controlled the minds and thoughts of the auto-buying public, the American public has fought back by embracing financial incentives and boosting Prius sales by 27% in March. With incentives in place like $229 lease rates and other customer loyalty bonuses, it looks like John Q. Consumer made a decision on his next car based on his wallet and not what his TV news was telling him.

Overall, Toyota sales were up an astounding 40% last month compared to March 2009. Also, Prius year-to-date sales are up 17% in 2010 compared to 2009.

Toyota just held a press conference to release their preliminary findings in the James Sikes "runaway prius" case. CNN aired it live and one quote they pulled out was that Mr. Sikes "intentionally misused" the brake system in order to overheat it. Here is the full press release from Toyota:

The AP is reporting that Toyota plans to hold a press conference today to release their findings on the alleged sudden acceleration incident of a Prius in San Diego. As you probably already know, an early Congressional memo has shown that NHTSA and Toyota have not been able to replicate the issue.

We'll keep you updated on when the press conference is going to happen and the information released.

You'll never guess what discussion topic dominated the PriusChat forums this past week. What? You were under a rock last week? Well, let us show you what you missed!

By now you've probably seen or heard from Toyota what you should do in the case of an emergency in your Prius. Shift the car into Neutral, apply brakes, pull over. If that doesn't work, hold the Power button for 3 seconds to shut the car down. There's only one problem with these instructions - they are exactly the opposite of what Toyota has written in the 2010 Prius manual.

As you can see in the image above from the 2010 Prius owners manual, the manual says on Page 155 under Chapter 2-1 Driving Procedures:

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas has decided to take advantage of the media frenzy over Toyota by filing a lawsuit against Toyota on behalf of Orange County residents. DA Rackauckas says the company continues to endanger the public through sale of defective vehicles and deceptive business practices.

Rackauckas is expected to announce the lawsuit Friday morning.

If you just finished watching the hilarious version of "How to Stop a Prius" and are looking for something a little more bland and, um, corporate, here's a video for you. Toyota has put together an official demonstration video of what to do to safely stop your hybrid vehicle in the case of an emergency.

Leave it to a PriusChatter to figure out the best way to explain the easy fix if you ever find yourself with brake problems in your Prius. PriusChat forum member Gasitman has created a hilarious NSFW (not safe for work or children) YouTube video where he lays out the steps to stop your Prius. Yes, there are about 40 F-bombs in the video. And, yes, he does look strangely like Walter Sobchak from "Big Lebowski".

James Sikes' 911 call to authorities was released last night, and we have the full conversation available for listening below.

"My car can't slow down," he began when a California Highway Patrol dispatcher answered his call.

During the two 911 calls, Sikes ignored many of the dispatcher's questions, saying later that he had to put his phone on the seat to keep his hands on the wheel.

Leighann Parks, a 24-year-old dispatcher, repeatedly told him to throw the car into neutral but got no answers.

Full audio: