Toyota Motors has agreed to pay an additional 32.425 million dollars in civil penalties in two separate investigations into its handling of auto recalls. US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in a press release yesterday that Toyota will pay the maximum fines allowable under the law. The penalties are being paid in response to the Transportation Department's assertion that it failed to comply with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act for reporting safety defects to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The first investigation resulted in a 16.375 million dollars fine while the second investigation resulted in a 16.050 million dollars fine. Toyota recalled nearly five million vehicles with accelerator pedals that could become entrapped by floor mats.