A DRIVER has found himself caught in the middle of a feud between cops and a car dealership after being pulled over just seconds into a test drive.
The baffled motorist was slapped with a citation without even knowing he was doing anything wrong.
Daniel Rocha found himself pulled over by police seconds into his test drive of a new truck[/caption]
He was handed a citation over a number plate issue[/caption]
Daniel was looking for a new truck after his old one was wrecked in a crash that claimed his son’s life[/caption]
Daniel Rocha, from Prosper, TX, was stunned when he saw the blue lights flashing behind him.
His shock was mainly due to the fact that he’d only just taken the truck he was in off the lot for a test drive at the local Toyota dealership.
The officer who pulled him over explained that Daniel was stopped because the truck wasn’t displaying a license plate at the back.
Cars can be stored on dealership lots without plates but they are necessary to use the vehicle on public roads.
To get around registration requirements, dealers are allowed to use special plates, known as “dealer tags”, which often just display the make and model of the vehicle and dealership name.
But the truck Daniel was driving didn’t have these and, under Texas law, the operator of the vehicle is responsible.
He even claimed that the officer told him that local police had been “getting on these guys for doing that” and had been directed to enforce the rules on customers in order to make dealers take action.
Ultimately, the unfortunate driver was issued with a citation.
He told WFAA: “It does upset me that I’m in the middle of this feud that’s going on.
“I lost my son in a car accident and that was my truck.
“I would rather have my son here but I’m just looking for a vehicle.”
Daniel ended up not buying the truck after all the stress, leaving him without a car for even longer.
And even though the dealership offered to reimburse the cost of the ticket, he still has to attend a court date because of it.
A spokesperson for the Prosper Police Department said: “Failure to properly display dealer tags on a test-driven vehicle is a violation of Texas law.
“Under state law, vehicle operators are held responsible for any citations if this law is ignored.
“We urge all car dealerships to comply with these regulations to ensure the safety of their customers and prevent future violations.”
What makes a car a lemon?
Each law has different parameters on what defines a lemon, but generally, a car is lemon when it’s in the shop for longer than it’s on the road.
Progressive Auto Insurance describes a lemon as a car with “a significant defect or malfunction that makes it unsafe to drive,” though exact parameters vary by state. All 50 states have lemon laws covering new vehicles, but only seven have lemon laws to protect used car buyers.
Federally, however, consumers are protected under U.S. Code Chapter 50 covering consumer product warranties. In layman’s terms, the law dictates that consumers be compensated by the manufacturer when “multiple attempts to repair a vehicle under warranty fail.”
What to do if you think you bought a lemon:
- Research your state’s lemon laws and their exact parameters.
- Contact the dealership, especially if it’s still under factory warranty.
- If the dealership refuses to repair the issue, contact the Automotive Consumer Action Program or the National Automobile Dealers Association.
- Send a certified letter to the manufacturer with an explanation of the issue, with documentation and proof that you’ve contacted a dealership.
- Depending on the outcome, you can report the dealership to the DMV for selling a car that needs immediate repairs.
- Consider small claims court.
- Consult an attorney specializing in lemon law through the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
Source: Progressive Auto Insurance
In response to Daniel’s claims, the general manager of the dealership said: “Safety is a top priority at Longo Toyota of Prosper, and we are dedicated to providing a secure environment for everyone.
“Our community is very important to us, and we have been active supporters since we opened nearly eight years ago.
“We recently became aware of an issue during a test drive, which we are actively working to address and resolve.
“Driver safety is a core value for us, and we proudly sponsor a driver education program in our local area.
“Our team is dedicated to the well-being of our guests and the community we serve.”
Cops insisted that it is the driver’s responsibility to display the correct plates[/caption]
The dealership involved has offered to pay the cost of the ticket, but Daniel still faces a court date[/caption]
