Sand Car Association pays $600,000 for illegal vehicle sales
Penalties apply to 37 manufacturers

SACRAMENTO – Last month the California Air Resources Board fined a consortium of sand car sellers $600,000 for its members’ illegal engine and vehicle sales between 2006 and 2008.

ARB investigators found that illegal engines and vehicles were being sold in California by several sand car manufacturers. The penalties from this case apply to 37 members of the newly formed association that were selling uncertified products.

“Industries that cater to off-road enthusiasts must also consider their product’s impact on the environment,” said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “Uncontrolled emissions from these vehicles add to California’s already serious smog problems.”

As a result of the investigation, most major sand car manufacturers and some engine suppliers located in California formed the Sand Car Association. to ensure that its members build compliant products. The association’s formation has resulted in industry self-enforcement and California certification of three engines for use in sand cars.

For a complete list of the 37 manufacturers included in the settlement, click here.

ARB is still investigating other sand car manufacturers that are producing and selling illegal non-California certified vehicles.

Sand cars are off-road vehicles popular at state and federal recreation areas like Pismo Beach and Glamis Dunes. The Department of Motor Vehicles can revoke registrations of illegal vehicles; therefore, it is important that dealers and purchasers ensure that the vehicles are legal in California.

Clean vehicle engines cut smog-forming emissions and improve fuel economy, reducing harmful greenhouse gases. Smog can cause respiratory problems, including asthma, and effects the lung function growth of children.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

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AutoZone Settlement Totals $90,000

SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board reached a settlement with AutoZone West, Inc. for $90,000 in March for selling non certified aftermarket catalytic converters from AutoZone stores in California.

An ARB investigation showed that AutoZone, headquartered in Memphis, TN, sold non-certified catalytic converters from its California stores between January and March of 2009.

“Vehicle emissions are the main contributor of smog-forming pollutants in California,” said Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “Automotive retailers are required to stock products that meet California’s clean air goals.”

As of January 1, 2009, all new aftermarket catalytic converters sold or installed in California must be able to comply with certification emissions standards for five years or 50,000 miles. Manufacturers must first demonstrate through emission testing that the catalytic converters meet the required performance levels and obtain ARB approval before they can legally offer units for sale in California.

AutoZone paid $90,000 in penalties to the California Air Pollution Control Fund for funding projects and research to improve California’s air quality. In addition to the penalties, AutoZone took quick action to remove any remaining non-certified product from its California stores, and it is enhancing its restricted product system to prevent similar violations in the future.

California’s air quality measures are in place to prevent excessive emissions that can negatively affect public health. Ozone, also known as smog, can cause difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, coughs, heightened asthma rates, cardiopulmonary ailments and premature deaths.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

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ARB investigation leads to $33,000 judgment against Bay Area dealer of “pocket bikes”
Vehicles were uncertified, illegal to sell in CA

SACRAMENTO – An investigation by the Air Resources Board has led to a $33,000 judgment issued in June by the Alameda Superior Court against Alameda-based Scooter Importers for selling uncertified off-road vehicles and “pocket bikes.”

Despite their resemblance to legally certified motorcycles, these pocket bikes, which are small enough to be picked up and stored in the trunk or back seat of an average car, did not meet State safety or emissions standards for on-road vehicles and cannot be sold in California. All the uncertified vehicles were manufactured in China.

“Breaking clean air laws costs violators money,” said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. “But more than that, it costs millions of Californians their health. These pocket bikes may be cute but they can produce 100 times the emissions of a clean new car.”

Scooter Importers was issued three Notices of Violation for selling the uncertified vehicles. A settlement was not reached, so the case was referred to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. A judgment was ultimately entered in Superior Court in the amount of $33,000 for Health and Safety Code violations. The Air Resources Board will receive $7,000, while the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office will receive $8,000 and the Alameda County Treasurer $18,000.

In addition, Scooter Importers was permanently enjoined from acquiring, offering for sale, or selling uncertified motor vehicles for use, registration, or resale in California.

Vehicles that do not meet California’s tough emission requirements pose real danger to residents. They create higher amounts of smog-forming pollutants, which can then exacerbate respiratory ailments and negatively affect other health conditions.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

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FTC Extends Enforcement Deadline for Identity Theft Red Flags Rule

At the request of Members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission is delaying enforcement of the “Red Flags” Rule until June 1, 2010, for financial institutions and creditors subject to enforcement by the FTC.

CAR DEALERS WILL HAVE UNTIL JUNE 1, 2010 TO MEET RED FLAG RULES COMPLIANCE

The Rule was promulgated under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, in which Congress directed the Commission and other agencies to develop regulations requiring “creditors” and “financial institutions” to address the risk of identity theft. The resulting Red Flags Rule requires all such entities that have “covered accounts” to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs to help identify, detect, and respond to patterns, practices, or specific activities – known as “red flags” – that could indicate identity theft.

The Commission previously delayed the enforcement of the Rule for entities under its jurisdiction until November 1, 2009. The Commission staff has continued to provide guidance to entities within its jurisdiction, both through materials posted on the dedicated Red Flags Rule Web site (www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule), and in speeches and participation in seminars, conferences and other training events to numerous groups. The Commission also published a compliance guide for business, and created a template that enables low risk entities to create an identity theft program with an easy-to-use online form. FTC staff has published numerous general and industry-specific articles, released a video explaining the Rule, and continues to respond to inquiries from the public. To assist further with compliance, FTC staff has worked with a number of trade associations that have chosen to develop model policies or specialized guidance for their members.

On October 30, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the FTC may not apply the Red Flags Rule to attorneys. Today’s announcement that the Commission will delay enforcement of the Rule until June 1, 2010, does not affect the separate timeline of that proceeding and any possible appeals. Nor does it affect other federal agencies’ ongoing enforcement for financial institutions and creditors subject to their oversight.

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Auto Dealer Fraud
Did you know Auto Dealer Fraud is ranked as the number one consumer complaint throughout the nation? Dishonest car dealers are deceitfully swindling average consumers of thousands of dollars. You may be a victim and not know it. For an average consumer it is often difficult to determine whether or not they have been victimized. Since there are so many forms of Dealer Fraud, an average person can easily be defrauded. Auto Dealer Fraud categories include: misrepresentation of title, false advertisement, misrepresentation of vehicle history, financing fraud, packing payments, negative/trade-in equity, contract confusion, and selling prior rental, wrecked, or marked vehicles without disclosure or as new vehicles.

Contract Confusions
Contract fraud is perhaps the most discrete form of auto fraud. Since an average consumer is unaware of the many deceptive tactics that dealers use, they could be bound into paying hundreds of dollars. An average consumer is manipulated through various tricks, including rewriting/backdating contracts; signing more than “one” document in an attempt to charge a higher down payment, higher APR (Annual Percentage Rate), etc.; forging customers’ signatures; failing to provide translations of the completed lease or purchase contract in the applicable language; packing the contract with add-ons such as a service contract, warranty options, and accessories including alarms, GAP insurance, paint/fabric protection, window etching or low jack, items the customers don’t need.

Rewritten Contracts/Backdating: This occurs when a customer does not qualify for financing under initial contract terms. Therefore, the customer may have to consent to increase in down payment, higher APR, etc. in order to qualify for a loan. The dealership deceitfully has the customer sign a second contract with different terms and backdates the second contract with the date of the initial contract, thereby, charging interest for a time period in which the contract is not yet in effect. Not only is the act of backdating illegal, it is also a violation of the Automobile Sales Finance Act (ASFA), which requires that all parties sign one document.

Financing Fraud
Consumers are routinely billed hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars by fraudulent car dealers. These schemes are designed to extort the highest possible profit from each sale. Dealers use many tactics, including negative equity/trade-ins which a transaction where the consumer is falsely led to believe that the dealership is valuing the trade-in vehicle at the same amount as what is owed. However, in reality the actual cash value of the vehicle in trade-in is less than the amount owed. This difference is added to the cash price of the new vehicle and as a result consumers ends up paying more in taxes and registration. The consumer is also duped when they are told they do not qualify for a loan under the original contract terms and therefore must pay a higher down payment or APR. Often customers end up paying for add-ons (such as alarms, service contracts, GAP insurance, paint/fabric protection, window etching, lo-jack, etc.) that they don’t necessarily need.

Used Car Fraud
Used Car Fraud occurs when the seller fails to disclose prior vehicle history (such as prior accidents, or rentals, etc); misrepresents title (often by selling a “salvage” title); or odometer fraud, where an odometer is illegally rolled back, replaced, or started over.

Negotiating in a Foreign language
California law provides that if a customer negotiates a lease/purchase of a vehicle primarily in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog or Vietnamese, the dealer must give consumer a translation of the final contract in the applicable language before the contract is signed.

Odometer Fraud
Odometer fraud is the most prevalent form of auto fraud, resulting in costs of thousands of dollars. Odometer fraud occurs when illegal changes are made to the mileage shown on a used vehicle’s title and odometer. Examples of odometer fraud include roll back, replacement, or having an odometer rolled through all digits and started over.

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Occupational Licensing Industry News OLIN 2009–11

Red Flags Rule Compliance

New Information

Effective June 1, 2010, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will begin enforcement of the Red Flags Rule, a regulation issued under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), which is a federal law designed to enhance protection against identity theft.

Questions and Answers

Q. What is a red flag?

A. A red flag is a warning sign that identifies a suspicious pattern, practice, or activity that indicates the possible existence of identity theft.

Q. Does the Red Flags Rule list the identity theft warning signs?

A. The Red Flags Rule lists the following identity theft warning signs:

1. Alerts and notifications received from credit reporting agencies and third-party providers.

2. The submission of suspicious documents or suspicious identifying information.

3. Unusual or suspicious account activity.

4. A concern shared by a customer, identify theft victim, or law enforcement.

Q. Who must comply with the Red Flags Rule?

A. The FTC requires all creditors who have covered accounts to comply with the Red Flags Rule. A creditor is an entity that regularly grants loans, arranges for loans or the extension of credit, or makes credit decisions. Covered accounts are primarily personal, family, or household accounts requiring multiple payments or transactions, such as an automobile loan or an account which has a foreseeable risk of identity theft.

Q. Does the Red Flags Rule apply to vehicle dealers?

A. If a dealer extends auto credit to consumers or arranges auto credit for consumers, the rule will most likely apply.

Q. What is required?

A. The Red Flags Rule requires the development and maintenance of a written Identity Theft Prevention Program (ITPP) to detect, prevent, and reduce the possibility of identity theft. The ITPP must include the following four elements:

1. Reasonable policies and procedures to address the “red flags” of identity theft you may encounter in the day-to-day operation of your business.

2. A plan to detect the red flags you’ve identified. For example: if you’ve identified fake IDs as a red flag, then you must have procedures in place to detect possible fake, forged, or altered identification, such as training staff.

3. Appropriate actions to take when red flags are detected.

4. Identify the persons responsible for implementing and administering the program and approval of the program by your board of directors. If you don’t have a board, approval of the ITPP is up to an appropriate senior-level employee. Your ITPP must also include plans for training staff and periodic re-evaluation to reflect new identity theft risks.

Q. Will all ITPPs be the same?

A. While some businesses and organizations may need a comprehensive program that addresses a high risk of identity theft, others with a low risk of identity theft could create a more streamlined program.

Q. What if our company outsources or subcontracts some of our work?

A. If you outsource or subcontract parts of your operation that would be covered by the Red Flags Rule, your ITPP must address how you’ll monitor your contractors’ compliance.

Q. When is the deadline for implementation of the Red Flags Rule?

A. The implementation deadline was November 1, 2008, but the FTC is delaying enforcement of the Red Flags Rule until June 1, 2010, to give creditors and financial institutions additional time to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs. However, this delay does not prevent other federal agencies from enforcing the Red Flags Rule after November 1, 2008, for institutions subject to their oversight.

Q. Who enforces the Red Flags Rule?

A. The FTC, the federal bank regulatory agencies, and the National Credit Union Administration enforce the Red Flags Rule.

Q. Are there any non-compliance consequences?

A. 1. Federal Administrative Action: The FTC can enact penalties up to $2,500 per violation (15 United States Code §1681 (a)(2)(A)).

2. State Enforcement: States can impose up to $1,000 per violation, plus attorneys’ fees.

3. Civil Liability: Customers can also file civil suits to recover actual damages sustained due to a violation.

Q. Where can I obtain a copy of the FTC guidelines?

A. A copy of the guidelines may be obtained at:

http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/redflagsrule/more-about-red-flags.shtm

NOTE: This is only a summary of the Red Flags Rule. Please refer to the FTC guidelines for more comprehensive information.

Background The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 to combat identity theft and requires joint federal agencies to develop and implement regulations. The regulations are intended to protect consumers by requiring businesses to develop a written ITPP plan. These businesses include those that extend credit or maintain consumer accounts allowing multiple payments or transactions or maintain accounts that have a reasonably foreseeable risk of customer identity theft.

Distribution

Notification that this memo is available online at:

dmv.ca.gov/pubs/olin/olin.htm

was made via e-mail alert in June 2009 to the following:

• All E-mail Alert subscribers. Contact For Red Flags Rule concerns or questions contact the FTC, at:

RedFlags@ftc.gov
MARY GARCIA,

California DMV

Chief

Occupational Licensing

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