The
Automotive
Recyclers Association (ARA) urged Congress to review
implementation and enforcement of the
National
Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) when
they return from recess.
As a
result of Hurricane Irene and historic flooding in
across the eastern seaboard, vehicles in Connecticut,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and
Vermont have been submerged in water. Now more than
ever, it is essential that NMVTIS be fully implemented
and the underlying statute enforced to help prevent the
unknowing sale of these flood-damaged vehicles.
NMVTIS, a national electronic system that provides
consumers with valuable information about a vehicle's
condition and history, can play a crucial role in
helping ensure that these flood-damaged vehicles are not
sold to unsuspecting consumers in the used-car market.
"After Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Justice
(DOJ) reported that truckloads of flooded vehicles were
taken out of Louisiana to other states where they were
dried out, cleaned, and sold to unsuspecting consumers
in other states," said Michael E. Wilson CEO of the
ARA. "NMVTIS must be fully implemented and utilized to
prevent this from happening again," added Wilson.
Such fraudulent and unsafe practices can only be stopped
if all states participate fully in NMVTIS and all
"individuals" and "entities" that are required to report
to the system are held accountable. "Regrettably, DOJ
has limited resources to do this. Congress should
intercede and permit individual state enforcement
agencies to work more closely with DOJ to identify and
implement efficient methods to increase participation.
Only with sufficient resources can DOJ and the
appropriate state law enforcement colleagues target all
businesses/individuals whom are operating under the
radar and fulfill their obligations under the statute,"
Wilson asserts.
Since 1943, the Automotive Recyclers Association
(“ARA”) represents an industry dedicated to the
efficient removal and reuse of “green” automotive parts,
and the proper recycling of inoperable motor vehicles.
ARA represents the interests of over 4,500 auto
recycling facilities in the United States and fourteen
other countries around the world. With programs such as
the Certified Automotive Recycler Program (CAR) and
other partnerships, ARA members continue to provide
consumers with quality, low-cost alternatives for
vehicle replacement parts, while preserving our
environment for a “greener” tomorrow.
To learn more about the Association, visit ARA’s Home
Page at or call (571) 208-
0428.
