Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator (OMVIC) has suspended DL Autobrokers in North Bay.

The move means the Lakeshore Drive based dealer and it’s owners (Darrel Legare and Andrea St. Amant) cannot legally sell, lease, buy or consign vehicles.

In a media release issued on Tuesday afternoon, OMVIC said it was issuing an immediate suspension.

“Immediate suspensions are only issued when the regulator believes a dealer’s conduct may place the car-buying public at risk,” reads a statement from OMVIC.

Laura Halbert, OMVIC director of compliance and deputy registrar, said an investigation was triggered by a consumer complaint and OMVIC investigation.

“These are serious allegations,” said Halbert.

“So it was imperative OMVIC issue the immediate suspension order to protect North Bay-area car buyers.”

In conjunction with the suspension order, OMVIC also issued proposals to revoke the dealer’s registration and to refuse new applications for registration by Legare personally and for a new dealership.

The investigation found the dealer allegedly:

• did not remove liens from at least two vehicles traded in, and from at least two vehicles sold, leaving consumers potentially responsible for the debts

• failed to inform OMVIC as required that the corporation had filed for bankruptcy; additionally, Legare failed to inform OMVIC he had personally filed a commercial proposal pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act

• did not deposit proceeds of vehicle sales into the dealership bank account as required

• was not operating from its registered location (the dealer’s licensed address is 197 Lakeshore Drive, not 518 Lakeshore Drive where it was operating)

• sold vehicles consigned by other dealers without required consignment contracts and without disclosing to consumers the vehicles were being offered for sale on a consignment basis

• failed to maintain and/or produce records for inspection

• employed unregistered salespersons (Darrel Legare and Andrea St. Amant)

Should a dealer appeal an immediate suspension order, a hearing will be held within 15 days before the licence appeal tribunal.

OMVIC said the tribunal will determine if the order should be extended until a final determination is made regarding the associated proposal(s) to revoke/refuse registration.