Motor Vehicle Commission fines dealer $10,000 over deceptive 'scratch‑off' mailer; amends legal report

The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission voted Oct. 28 to impose civil penalties totaling $10,000 against a dealer for advertising the commission deemed misleading.

At a legal‑committee session chaired by Commissioner Carl Kramer, staff displayed a redacted promotional ‘‘scratch‑off’’ mailer and told commissioners that consumers had called saying they had won prizes, drove to the dealership, and then learned the prize claims were conditional on matching confirmation codes and additional on‑site checks. Erica Cable, program attorney, told the commission that some consumers reported being told by the call center that they had won, then were later told they “may not have won.” The legal staff recommended civil penalties based on prior precedent.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the mailer’s…