Unregistered dealer fined $100

An unregistered car dealer who illegally sold 38 vehicles between 2017 and 2020 has copped a fine of only $100 despite his offences being “more than minor”.

Kenneth James Michael Cumming, 40, was sentenced at Timaru District Court on November 2 after previously pleading guilty to two counts of carrying out the business of motor vehicle trading without being registered, which breaches the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003.

The Timaru man appeared before Judge Joanna Maze, who said the offence carried a fine of up to $50,000.

In sentencing, Judge Maze noted Cumming’s situation would make it impossible for him to pay any significant fine because he has no job, debts of $5,000 and is dependent on a disability allowance.

She convicted him and said the offending was “more than minor”, but “whatever it was you were doing with these vehicles, you weren't making any money”, reports Stuff.

A summary of facts reveals he sold 24 cars between September 2017 and September 2018 before selling five more after compliance letters were sent by the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders.

He went on to sell nine more cars between August 2019 and August 2020.

“The registrar confirms that the defendant was not registered as a motor vehicle trader throughout the period the motor vehicles were sold,” the summary says.

It continues by noting the registrar has seen a “worrying increase in the number of unregistered motor vehicle traders”. 

Under the Act, a person is considered to be a motor vehicle trader if they sell more than six vehicles within a 12-month period.