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1999 SESSION

993569254
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 522
Offered January 13, 1999
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study ways to reduce illegal sales of motor vehicles in Virginia.
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Patron-- Griffith
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Virginia law provides that engaging in business in the Commonwealth as a motor vehicle dealer or salesperson without first obtaining a license is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor; and

WHEREAS, the intent of the law is not to prevent occasional sales of motor vehicles by their owners to other individuals, but to prevent making a business out of unlicensed sales of motor vehicles at shopping centers, parking lots, and the roadside, a practice commonly known as “curb-stoning”; and

WHEREAS, curb-stoning exposes unwary consumers to a variety of unscrupulous practices and the possibility of purchasing vehicles that may be not merely seriously overpriced, but possibly also mechanically unreliable, unsafe or stolen; and

WHEREAS, curb-stoning not only endangers consumers, but exposes the Commonwealth to the risk of lost revenues from misstatement of vehicle sales prices, “title jumping,” and other fraudulent practices; and

WHEREAS, it is highly desirable that prompt, aggressive and cost-effective means be found to eliminate curb-stoning in Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study ways to reduce illegal sales of motor vehicles in Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of 10 members as follows: six members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker, and four members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 4,500.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.