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Toronto, October 10, 2008 - A Bradford
man was convicted in Barrie Provincial Offences Court Tuesday,
after posing as a car dealer and selling salvage-branded cars to
unsuspecting consumers.
The conviction was the result of charges laid by the Ontario
Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) following an
investigation into 24 cars imported by a man who was selling
them from an unregistered (illegal) car dealership operated as
"Millennium Imports and Services" at 4286 10 Side Road,
Bradford.
This dealer imported the cars from salvage auctions in North
Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Maryland during
the past year. All of these cars, which included late model Ford
SUVs, Honda and Mazda, had been branded as "salvage" in the
United States, and are not considered roadworthy. After being
imported into Canada the titles were "washed" so that the
salvage brand was removed to conceal the true history and
condition of the vehicles.
The vehicles were repaired cosmetically and sold to Ontario
consumers.
Since these vehicles may be unsafe, the Ministry of
Transportation will be contacting the consumer victims to
suspend the vehicle permits until the cars have passed an
official structural inspection.
Paul Troper, 40 years, of Bradford, plead guilty on October 07
2008 to 20 counts of selling cars without registration contrary
to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. He was fined a total of
$40,000 (plus victim surcharge).
About OMVIC
OMVIC administers the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act - a public
protection statute - on behalf of the Ministry of Small Business
and Consumer Services.
OMVIC's mandate is to maintain a safe and informed marketplace
by ensuring registration of dealers and salespeople, regularly
inspecting dealers, maintaining a complaint line for consumers
and conducting investigations.
OMVIC is also responsible for administering the Motor Vehicle
Dealers Compensation Fund on behalf of a Board of Trustees. The
Fund provides up to $15,000 of compensation if a consumer
suffers as a result of a transaction with a registered dealer.
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