"Moreover, there is this harm, too, and one of vast extent, and touching men generally, that by insincerity and lying, faith and truth are lost, which are the firmest bonds of human society, and when they are lost supreme confusion follows in life, so that men seem in nothing to differ from devils." -John Henry Newman: Apologia pro Vita Sua, 1864.

The literal deceit of continuing violations of the current odometer laws is appalling. In the states where these new odometer laws are in force, and there are now fourteen of them, fleet men are either paying a premium price in the form of a major loss or they are personally, depending on incentives to influence others, changing readings for the ultimate in used car merchandising values.

It is not right!

We need not look to the bursting wave of consumerism to guide us with our consciousness. We need only to check our own moral values that are daily compared with the bottom lines generated for the individual corporations that we are working for.

In recent months two auto dealers, one in Baltimore and one in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, have been found guilty of tampering with odometers. One lost his auto licensing privileges for three days and was fined $500; the other got ripped for $1200.

Nevada has reportedly adopted rules prohibiting altering of odometers which would also include sales by private individuals.

Dick Bullis, a long time friend and Chevy dealer in the California Bay area located an ad from an auto auction which, among other things, set forth their fees: for detail, $25; for local pickup, $5; for sale fee, $40; and for speedometer repair, $7.50.

From now on, California auto dealers will be required to report mileage reading to the Department of Motor Vehicles whenever a new or used vehicle is sold. Robert Cozens, DMV Director (who addressed the recent AFLA convention) announced that odometer readings must also be reported by any individual whenever a vehicle changes ownership and by a repairman, anytime he works on, repairs, or replaces an odometer.

When the representatives of the attorney-general's office for the state of Massachusetts descended upon the Concord Auto Auction and started checking odometer readings on cars entered for the regular Wednesday sale it is reported that the majority of the dealer-consigners left with their cars according to Frank Parker from Concord.

More recently, an out-of-state car wholesaler doing business in the state of Washington, was sentenced to jail for one year and must pay court costs plus a fine of $2000 to make restitution to injured parties and serve a probationary term of three years. This for unlawfully selling cars with the knowledge that the odometers were turned back.

It is happening; and it is happening close enough to us all to have an effect on us all.

Professional fleet men and used car merchandisers will freely admit that the high mileage car is not necessarily a car that should be penalized for a premium on depreciation for that sole reason. Adjusting the odometer can actually perform a service of sorts in eliminating a factor that the average buyer may put too much stock in, compared to the overall condition of the car.

On the other side of the stick, the low mileage car may have the typical city operation in which it was driven at slow-speed, stop-and-go duty which might show more adverse wear on the clutch or transmission, more parking lot side dents and the ultimately dangerous motor sludge; as well as the heavy use of brake linings.

Mileage in itself is a damned poor barometer of a car's intrinsic value.

Frank Kovacs of McKeown-Phalin Chevy, and representing other dealerships in the Chicago area, confirmed that he has been experimenting with a policy of showing affadavits affirming that the mileage on his used fleet cars is correct. He claims that he is receiving $120 to $150 more for his cars. By contrast, Milo Matick, fleet manager from Piemonte Ford (and a recognized expert on used cars from his years at Hertz) in the Chicago area explains that he is losing about $140 on each of his older, high mileage cars compared to the low mileage units; and it forces him to mark up the later model cars to adjust for that difference.

The "buyer-beware" principle is venerable and still valid in this age of consumerism. It is incumbent upon the groups that represent the overall industry to act with the fervor and sincerity that accompanies their efforts on other similar challenges. The ethical and moral aspects of flipping the clock demand that we provide the leadership to make Washington aware of the need for uniformity and a national law that will be equitable.

Cheating and deceit are not for our industry.

Let's go NAFA, AALA, NAAA, NADA, AFLA and CATRALA; get those committees off dead center and meet this one head on.