Record $30,000 Fine a 'Token'
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VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4 JULY 2014 DEALERS Record $30,000 have A ‘FIELD day’ fine a ‘token’ IN June he ‘registries integrity and fine - some $55,000 in five years - with enforcement’ team, Ministry of no sign the fines have curtailed his il- phenomenal 23,863 new TBusiness, Innovation and Em- legal trading and used vehicles were sold ployment, may have been celebrating The maximum penalty for an indi- Alast month - believed to be a last week its biggest ever fine for un- vidual convicted of unregistered motor combined record for June. registered trading, but another industry vehicle trading is $50,000 ($200,000 for On the back of heavy Fieldays body says the amount is not really a company). promotions, the new vehicle in- worth the fuss. The Motor Trade Association is dustry had a ‘field day’ retailing an Brett Eric Collins, a 61 year-old concerned, however, that the penalties all-time record 4002 commercial Waiheke Island resident who in the past being imposed on unregistered traders vehicles - more than 700 ahead of had traded under the name ‘Brett’s Bar- do not go far enough. last June’s 3262 new commercial Tony Everett, MTA sales. dealer services and On top of this, franchised dealers mediation manager, sold another 8517 cars and SUVs - notes that while the well ahead of last June’s 6802 new fact that enforcement passenger vehicles. gains’, was convicted in the Auckland of such cases is positive, “we regard Used import dealers also had District Court for selling eight vehicles this as a token fine – it is unlikely to another great month in June with within a 12 month period while unreg- recognise the full proceeds of the re- sales of 10,760 passenger cars, and istered and fined $30,000. peated violation of basic rules around 584 commercials. It is the latest in a long string of consumer law. Registrations of 10,760 passenger offences for Collins - this was his fifth “By not declaring their status, these cars last month were the second conviction under the Motor Vehicle cases represent traders wilfully and highest for the year so far, and a Sales Act 2003. In January 2006 he repeatedly misleading the people they staggering 37% ahead of June 2013. was convicted for unregistered mo- are selling to,” he explains. YTD sales of 60,356 used import tor vehicle trading and fined $2500. In “Being caught five times is not an passenger vehicles are 32% of the June 2006 he was again convicted for oversight or a mistake, it’s a calculated 45,640 registered in the same pe- unregistered motor vehicle trading and business cost. riod last year. fined $5000. In April 2008 he was con- “It’s good to see more prosecutions The 4002 new commercials sold victed for trading whilst banned (due to this year, though there are still too in June were the strongest June his previous two convictions) and fined many holes in the system,” Everett says. sales since the Motor Industry As- $7500. In March 2010 he was again He looks overseas for examples of sociation began collecting records convicted for trading whilst banned tougher systems. Continued on page 7 and fined $10,000. “ In Queensland, for example, the Now he’s been hit with a $30,000 Continued on page 3 GLOBAL VEHICLE LOGISTICS www.autohub.co +64 9 411 7425 foundation sponsors AutoTalk acknowledges the support of our foundation sponsors: WEEKLY PASSENGER & COMMERCIAL VEHICLE AUCTIONS www.motorweb.co.nz www.udc.co.nz www.autosure.co.nz 2 | www.autotalk.co.nz newstalk Illegal car rings - and INDUSTRY SUPPORTERS a red E-Type recognised by autotalk olice were active in charged with receiv- June with auto indus- ing and theft of- Ptry concerns, busting a fences. crime ring in Auckland, and Meanwhile an Auckland An associate of Whelan’s, recovering stolen cars in the businessman already jailed convicted fraudster Michael South Island. for fraudulently obtaining Swann owned a red E-Type The Counties Manukau loans from Dunedin-based Jaguar found abandoned in road crime unit carried out Motor Trade Finances (MTF), a Christchurch street. two warrants on a local has pleaded guilty dur- The recovered E-Type mechanic’s premises and ing a separate trial to using Jaguar will be sold by Turn- discovered an illegal car investor funds to repay other ers Auctions in Auckland in ringing operation. clients. ”due course”. Another E-Type Police had been gathering 41-year-old Mark James Jaguar had earlier been con- intelligence relating to the Whelan pleaded guilty to 10 fiscated and sold for $53,000. business in question and it Crimes Act charges – three Last year, police recov- became clear that it was an of theft by person in a spe- ered a 1922 Rolls-Royce illegal car ring. As a result cial relationship and seven Silver Ghost linked to Swann, 12 stolen cars have been charges of false statement which was found stashed in recovered and a number of by a promoter, reports the a container at Port Otago’s people were arrested and New Zealand Herald. Dunedin container yard. Record $30,000 FINE A ‘toKEN’ Continued from page 1 tions for selling motor the traders to register so law is geared so that it’s vehicles without being they are compliant with financially unviable to do registered,” says Flood. “This the legislation and only if autotalk this,” Everett says. “There, prosecution is a reminder this does not succeed does AutoTalk Magazine and autotalk.co.nz are published by fines are applied to take the to the motor vehicle trade enforcement action take Auto Media Group Limited. P.O.Box profit from each vehicle that enforcement action place. 10 50 10, Auckland City, 1030. Ph. sold, with a significant fine will be taken against those The Registrar of Motor 09 309 2444. on top as a deterrent. that don’t abide by the Vehicle Traders has inves- Publisher: Vern Whitehead “Certainly, recognising rules.” tigated 228 unregistered [email protected] the actual dollar value of Under the Motor Vehi- motor vehicle traders Managing editor: Richard Edwards the proceeds and using cles Sales Act 2003 individ- since 1 July 2013. Of those [email protected] fines to making illegal uals can legally sell six ve- 185 investigations have Chief Reporter: Robert Barry behaviour unviable would hicles in a 12 month period been finalised, 23 remain [email protected] definitely be a good start.” without being registered as under investigation with Sales manager: Dale Stevenson a Motor Vehicle Trader. the view of achieving [email protected] MBIE does not comment “The number of un- compliance, and 20 cases Identicar manager: John Stephens on Judges’ decisions.’ registered motor vehicle are currently before the [email protected] In an earlier statement, traders is on the rise, largely courts. Traffic & subscriptions manager of the ‘registries due to a change in trader Of the 185 completed administrator: Deborah Baxter integrity and enforcement behaviour towards online investigations: [email protected] team’, Karla Flood, noted markets,” Flood explains. • 114 were closed as Auto Media Group Limited makes the penalty reflects the fact The Registrar of Motor compliance was every endeavour to ensure infor- mation contained in this publica- that this was the man’s fifth Vehicle Traders works with achieved; tion is accurate, however we are conviction since 2006 for organisations such as Trade • 68 were closed as no not liable for any losses or issues the same offence. Me, New Zealand Customs offence was identified; resulting from its use. “This defendant contin- and Land Transport New • 3 traders were issued Annual subscription: $72 + gst ($82.80) ued to sell motor vehicles Zealand to help identify with written warnings Printed by: Alpine Printers. for several years, despite unregistered traders. The and are being moni- several previous convic- Registrar’s aim is to assist tored. www.autotalk.co.nz 3 | newstalk Three big events in the pipeline here are three special opportunities for dealers com- members and much more. ing up in the next three months. The event is being organised in partnership between T the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association and Auto Media Group Limited. the IMVIA’s black tie 25th anniversary celebrations 1 To make preliminary reservations of tables of 10, con- 17 October tact [email protected] - 027 530 5016 a chance to attend the ‘digital dealer’ conference in 2 Las Vegas, USA an invitation to watch the Rugby World Cup final Craig Brown, director 2 3 next year in an English pub of AutoPlay, along with Peter Aitken, are hosting a trip to ‘Vegas in September to the Digital Dealer Confer- The BIG event is the IMVIA’s celebration of more than ence (DDC). 1 25 years as a co-ordinated used import association, “If you have ever thought Craig Brown Peter Aitken which is planned for October 17 this year. about going to this event, The highlight will be a come along with us for a fun and more importantly,an in- black-tie dinner at the Pull- formative week looking at how the US market is working in man Hotel, featuring live this very important space,” says Brown. entertainment, acknowl- A very rough itinerary is: edgements of key industry Depart Sunday September 21 at 7.30pm - land 21st at 12.30 pm - enjoy the afternoon in LA or San Fran. Monday September 22, visit two dealers then fly to Vegas Tuesday DDC starts 9.30 am Wednesday DDC Thursday DDC finishes at 1pm then fly back to LA or San Fran. Friday visit an industry vendor or two and possibly another dealer.