AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION
NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

ARA members were in Washington D.C. March 7-11^th to participate in the Mid Year Business Development Program and Hill Days.  We had a successful event with more than 60 ARA members in attendance.  On Monday and Tuesday, members met with their legislators to alert them to the concerns of our industry regarding the lack of a viable database to protect consumers from title fraud.  Our industry has known for quite some time and has promoted for just as long the need for Federal Legislation to help stop automobile title fraud that includes VIN cloning and title washing. 

ARA does support the competitive bidding process for legitimate use of total loss salvage but is urging Congress to take prompt action to address the lack of regulations, code enforcement and funding that allow total loss/salvage to be used for criminal activity in the U.S. as well as abroad.  ARA also supports the legal bidding and purchase of total loss salvage for legal export; however, we believe that the current language needs to be clarified to prevent the export of multiple vehicles under the same VIN as well as other illegal salvage export activity.

In response to the ongoing need to combat vehicle fraud, ARA has developed a suspicious salvage transaction hotline.  We as ARA members know that every day vehicles that should be destined to our facilities are being purchased for illegal purposes including VIN cloning, VIN swapping and the export of multiple vehicles under one VIN.

ARA’s Hotline enables individuals to report confidentially suspicious salvage transactions that occur around the country at salvage auctions.  This information will then be forwarded on to law enforcement officials to be investigated as to the validity of the transaction.

If you would like to report a suspicious transaction, we ask that you call 1-888-385-1005 ext. 12 and leave the following information:

Year, make and model

Name of pool or seller

City and state of transaction

Date of sale

Sale and stall or lot number

Selling price

Brief reason why you believe this sale might lead to illegal activity

Once again, this process is completely confidential, and the information will only be used for law enforcement purposes.

ARA needs the eyes and ears of our members to supply us with good information so we can move this forward.

I would like to thank our Government Affairs Committee chaired by Norman Wright and the Salvage Solutions Committee, chaired by Herb Lieberman for their continuing efforts to fight for legislation promoting Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Consumer Protection Legislation.

Sandy Blalock, ARA President

KEEP ON RECYCLING!