Va. AG Herring warns Dealer Board on ad violations
The Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board (MVDB) had a first-time visitor at its November meeting state Attorney General Mark Herring. The AG said his office has special interest in ensuring that motor vehicle advertising is not deceptive.
The Attorney General said he plans to use the enforcement powers of his office only as a last resort, but he talked about the MVDBês enforcement actions on advertising. Herring emphasized the importance of making advertised prices available to all consumers. The MVDB has been especially active in this realm in recent months.
Herring said it may be tempting for dealers on the border of neighboring states, — such as those in Northern Virginia– not to observe the MVDB policies to be competitive with dealers across the border. But violating advertising laws is not the right response. Herring said he will work with attorneys general in other states to enforce the advertising laws in tandem which he believes would be helpful in markets like metropolitan Washington.
The unprecedented visit of the AG to an MVDB meeting should underline for Virginia dealers the importance of compliance with advertising laws to avoid enforcement actions by the MVDB and even the office of the Attorney General.
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