33 Used Car Lots Lose Their Licenses

No big surprise here from Adrian Fenty: the mayor announced today that 33 more used car lots have lost their licenses under the new regulations the administration announced and began implementing about six months ago. The mayor similarly shut down 23 other used car lots last fall, and has made targeting such businesses, which he has characterized as fostering illegal chop shop activity and contributing to neighborhood blight by evolving into junk yards, one of his top targets.

"Over the past six months we have filtered out those businesses that want to be good neighbors and those that did not wish to operate legitimate businesses," Fenty said today.

City officials pointed to 39 used car lots that managed to avoid further enforcement by reducing their inventories to fewer than five vehicles placed outdoors, a key component of the new regulations, which became effective December 23, 2008. Fourteen other dealers are working with DCRA to comply with the current laws.

The Post covers the story by focusing on the requirement that such businesses carry a $100,000 insurance bond, something some lot owners say has been difficult to obtain in this economy.

And of course, D.C. Council member Marion Barry has already grandstanded against Fenty's crusade against the used car lots, calling the legislation unfair to people who need to buy cheaper, used cars.