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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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