Issue Date:  -  Monday, 25 September 2006

Serial car seller convicted

Francesco (Frank) Domenico La Rosa of Highview Street in Alexander Heights had his run of illegal car dealing brought to an end in the Perth Magistrates Court today, after the Magistrate rejected his claim that he bought and sold cars primarily as a hobby.

In convicting Mr. La Rosa, the Magistrate ordered that he pay a total of $11,891.66 in fines and costs.
Mr La Rosa had argued that since his childhood he had maintained an interest in working on cars, and that a significant number of the cars he had sold were cars he had bought to tow his boat, only to find out after buying them that they were unsuitable for the purpose.

In evidence, Mr. La Rosa claimed an advertisement he placed in a newspaper seeking the employment of a part time mechanic was to repair one particular car only, after he fell ill.
But his explanation fell apart under cross-examination as the timing and nature of his advertisement made his explanation all but impossible.

In handing down his decision, the Magistrate observed that Mr. La Rosa bought written off vehicles at auction, before restoring and selling them. 
The magistrate observed that on at least three occasions, the odometer readings at the time of sale were around 100,000 kilometers less than at the time Mr. La Rosa purchased them.

“This successful prosecution reinforces our ongoing commitment to bring backyard operators to book whilst protecting purchasers and preserving the reputations of motor vehicle dealers who are appropriately licensed and qualified,” Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

“The Court was not duped by this man’s claims and his sentence should serve as a warning and deterrent to other would-be backyard car dealers that it will not be tolerated by the community.”

“Consumers buying vehicles from licensed dealers can have a degree of confidence in knowing that the people they are dealing with have had relevant training and experience, and that redress exists in the event that problems occur,” Mr. Walker said.

Mike Winchester (Dip PR WA   AIMM)
Principal Media Liaison Officer
Consumer Protection Division
Dept of Consumer & Employment Protection
Western Australia

L7, 219 St Georges Tce, Perth WA 6000
Locked Bag 14 Cloisters Square, Perth WA 6850

(08) 9282 0961
(08) 9282 0857
0409 118 982
mwinchester@docep.wa.gov.au
www.docep.wa.gov.au