April 2ist, 1977

The Honourable K. Rafa Mair,
“Minister of Congumer & Corporate Affairs,
_ Parliaseat Buildiags, .

Victoria, B.C.

Dear Sir: Re: Bon-Conforning Auto Accessories

At the regular nteting of the Municipal Council of The Corporation
of the City of Port Coguitlan held on April 18th, 1977, one of our Aldermen
referred to a problen he had recently encountered wherein motorists in our
City are apparently heing c ned by the Police for 4: Sralling certain
non-conforming cK: meen te vehicles purch- hy thet in good faith
From outlets (not necessarily in our City) selling auto accessories,
asec that although jt was not against the law to
Sell such ite: inst che law to dastail then on vehicles operating
on public h ? to create an nasatistactory situation as

the purchaser usually assures that anything soid lesally cau be used legally
but this is appateatly not the cease with these particular piccas of equipment.

Perhaps you would te good enough to review this situation and

advise if thera is anything your Department can do to help alleviate the
prodlexs being caused.

Yours very truly,
"a Sianay py

-)
ace)

City Clerk.

ea ‘ .
Province of ™~ 2s Ministry of Parhament Buiddngs
British Columbla. = "Consumer and Victona

. British Cotumtua
Corporate Affairs Vika
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER

May 11, 1977

The Corporation of the City of Port Coquitlan
2272 McAllister Avenue
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia v3C 2a8

ATTENTION: R. A. FREEMAN
CITY CLERK

Gentlemen:

RE: NON-CONFORMING ACCESSORIES

I refer to your letter of April 21, 1977.

As you may know, my Ministry is responsible for the administration
of the Trade Practices Act. Section 2(3) (x) provides that it may

be a deceptive or misleading practice for a supplier to fail to
state a material fact in a representation if the representation

is deceptive or Misleading. It would be my view that by holding
these items out for saie without Gisciosing that it nay be illegal
to install them on a vehicle which is to he used on provincial
highways, represents a "failure to state a material fact".

Perhaps outlets selling such accessories should either cease sel-
ling them or advise prospective purchasers that their use on the
highways of this province may constitute a violation of a provincial
Statute. It is true that it would not appear to be illegal to sell
them or illegal to buy them. It May not even be illegal to use

them on a vehicle where that vehicle is not being operated on public
highways in the province.

Without specific information as to the occurrence of such incidents
and the identity of the suppliers, my Ministry is not really in a
position to do anything. However, you may feel free to advise

any of your citizens who may find themselves in this position to
Contact our Vancouver office at 411 Dunsmuir Street, telephone

number 668-2911 and it may be that steps can he taken to enforce the
Trade Practices Act.

. fh
Yours,very: truly,
yes

mae . ‘
Contes: Covmes ! a K. Rafe Mair
RL. Cogaie Minister
‘ Consumer & Corporate Affairs