Interpretation ID: aiam1038
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Tallahassee
FL 32304;
Dear Mr. Peters: This is in response to your letter of February 27, 1973, concerning a instance of odometer tampering reported to your office by Mr. J. L. Scott.; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been delegate authority to administer Title IV, Odometer Requirements, of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, P.L. 92-513. Although the Act establishes private civil actions as the principal means of enforcement (section 409), we find it useful to learn of cases such as the one you report.; In Mr. Scott's case, however, the sale of the ranch wagon with th suspect odometer occurred before January 18, 1973, the effective date of the Federal act. The resetting of the odometer was therefore not a violation of Federal law, and Mr. Scott has no Federal recourse.; We would be interested to know if you have other reports concerning th dealer from whom Mr. Scott purchased his vehicle. If it appears that the dealer has made a business of resetting odometers, we would consider injunctive action against him.; Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel