Tony’s Auto Center, a towing company based in Chula Vista, California, has agreed to pay a settlement after allegations surfaced that it illegally auctioned off a U.S. Navy lieutenant’s vehicle during his deployment.
The service member in question is Lieutenant Jonathan Liongson. He was deployed on USS Bunker Hill when his car, a 2011 Mazda 6, was towed because its registration expired and was later auctioned off. This action is deemed illegal according to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
The SCRA stipulates that it’s illegal for the personal property of military personnel to be sold while they’re on active duty service without a court order.
It was reported that the Police Department of Chula Vista, California, impounded the said vehicle. Meanwhile, Tony’s Auto Center was responsible for having it auctioned off. Lieutenant Liongson only learned about this when he returned from deployment.
Following an investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Tony’s Auto Center will pay $7,500 in compensation to Lieutenant Liongson and a $2,000 civil penalty. The company is also required to revise its internal procedures to ensure compliance with the SCRA going forward.
Verifying active duty status is critical before taking actions like repossession or auction. SCRACVS can help companies ensure that the person they’re repossessing from is an active duty service member. Open an account today to verify the active duty status.