WINDBACK COSTS MOTOR DEALER $10,500

A Brisbane northside motor dealer has been fined $9000 and ordered to pay $1500 court costs after being convicted of winding back motor vehicle odometers.

James Thomas Priestley, 43, of Lawnton, the owner of Best Buy Motors dealership, was convicted in the Petrie Magistrates Court on three counts of breaching the Fair Trading Act 1989 by falsely representing vehicle history.

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech said an Office of Fair Trading investigation found Priestly and his company Terrabay Pty Ltd wound back odometers in a blatant attempt to increase the sale price.

“In one case the odometer was wound back over 123,000 km,” Mrs Keech said.

“Priestley deliberately left out odometer reading figures on sales contracts, making false claims about a vehicle’s ownership history and giving investigating officers false invoices in an attempt to avoid being caught.

“Odometer tampering is unacceptable and Priestley showed little remorse for his offences.

“False odometer readings not only mislead customers about a car's condition and value, but this type of treachery put lives in danger. The further a vehicle travels, the more prone it is to safety defects.”

"We won't tolerate odometer tampering. Offenders face fines and possible jail.”

Mrs Keech said Priestley would now face the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal to determine whether he is suitable to hold a motor dealer’s licence in Queensland.

For more information on motor dealer rights and obligations, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call the Office of Fair Trading on 13 13 04 for a free copy of the Motor Dealing and Sales Practice Good Business Guide.

Media contact: Joanne Gibbons 3224 2007 or Julie Struber (OFT) 3119 0066