This is probably a case of some prick wanting to make a name for him/herself at the agency and get bumped up. I blame the U.S. Gov. for not allowing them into the country. I mean this is the country that produced the Ford Pinto right?
Bad day for Defender owners
- Thread starter fishEH
- Start date
That D90 thread is a train wreck. I laughed when someone said it was turning into a DWeb thread. This thread is far milder.
Its great how Aaron is assumed guilty and has to prove his innocence here, which could be why he hasn't chimed in and he shouldn't.
Like a bunch of christians out to burn witches.
I've read some of your posts on this, and I agree and disagree in some ways.
I try to shy away from political discussions online anymore... anyone from DWeb the last 10 years knows what I mean... But there is simply no denying that whatever the issue that is going on with this particular investigation, this is an example of a government out of bounds.
This is a symptom of a government that has a deep cancer. It's the oil sheen pointing to the big spill. The tip of the iceburg that has nothing to do with Land Rovers. This is the benevolent busy-body tyranny.
HOWEVER!! I agree that stolen parts rings and fraud needs to be stopped! Even if it is a stupid law in the first place. Committing fraud is not the way to make a political statement about it, or to attempt to exercise your rights. But to punish the people who are two, three, four degrees removed from the actual crime is not the right way to conduct government.
Again, I feel really bad for those people who had their trucks taken. It isn't right. Especially if you went through the steps to purchase a legal vehicle in good faith. BUT! Even if you bought it knowing that it was a gamble, you don't deserve to be treated like this. There are other ways to go about it.
Actually, guilty or not, he should not, under any circumstances be chiming in anywhere -- and I would bet his lawyer told him the same thing.
I don't know the guy, but I am familiar with some of his sales. I also have seen MANY 110 sales on places like Craig's List that openly state that the vehicle is a, "2009 but VIN'ed as a 1986" or whatever.
I have often wondered about the various engines and large parts coming from UK. It would not surprise me if we are dealing with not only a crack down on importation fraud -- which it is obvious, and sometimes open, that it is -- but possibly an international theft ring. This Aaron character may not have been a part of that ring, but if you are consistently buying and importing at the edge of that ring, you really should know better.
Please refer to my previous post for my overall feelings on what the government is doing versus what they should do about this type of activity. The people who have their trucks taken really don't deserve this treatment. There should be a process, and a good government would not begin that process with 6am knocks and guns and fear.
All this talk about theft......
IF Aaron was dealing in stolen parts/trucks which he knew about, shame on him. But do we know this to be the case?
Yet, how is this any different from people knowingly buying an illegal truck? Sure, the exporter/importer broke the law. Shame on them. But the person knowingly buying the truck is just as guilty in my book, stolen or not.
It will never be limited to Aaron and Aaron only. It's just a matter of time until other Land Rover importers are investigated as well. This is only the beginning.
IF Aaron was dealing in stolen parts/trucks which he knew about, shame on him. But do we know this to be the case?
Yet, how is this any different from people knowingly buying an illegal truck? Sure, the exporter/importer broke the law. Shame on them. But the person knowingly buying the truck is just as guilty in my book, stolen or not.
It will never be limited to Aaron and Aaron only. It's just a matter of time until other Land Rover importers are investigated as well. This is only the beginning.
I can speak from personal experience that he fully understood that most of the trucks he was selling were not 100% compliant or were complete pieces of shit. Did he know that possible some were stolen? I'm not going to make that accusation, but he did know that the trucks he was brining in were not compliant. The trickle down effect is the problem, and as a importer, it is very clearly stated that YOU are responsible for the vehicle, even after multiple sales, while the vehicle is registered in the US.
Other importers have been investigated, had vehicle seized and/or stopped at the port, where they had the options to return the truck to the UK, or have it crushed. There's nothing new about that fact, but he knew the ramifications of what he was doing, now unsuspecting 3rd, 4th or 5th party owners are suffering from his actions.
Other importers have been investigated, had vehicle seized and/or stopped at the port, where they had the options to return the truck to the UK, or have it crushed. There's nothing new about that fact, but he knew the ramifications of what he was doing, now unsuspecting 3rd, 4th or 5th party owners are suffering from his actions.
I just read through the misery of that D90 thread. It's pretty evident that no one knows what the fuck is really going on.
However, what about the guys who are talking openly about their trucks being taken. They claim their trucks were legit trucks. So who has all these "non compliant" trucks?
One guy said his engine block number (gas motor) was "filed down and restamped". I find that unlikely.
However, what about the guys who are talking openly about their trucks being taken. They claim their trucks were legit trucks. So who has all these "non compliant" trucks?
One guy said his engine block number (gas motor) was "filed down and restamped". I find that unlikely.
The ones who had non compliant trucks taken probably wouldn't chime in because they are either fully aware of their participation or are completely unaware and don't even know internet forums exist for old ass LRs.
The d90 thread is typical…those who have insight are not openly sharing it. It took me quite a while to find a import that was actually legit. Most of the crap that DR A brought in was just that, crap and some of those were legit. Anything of value was questionable and I have friend in Phoenix who came home for lunch yesterday and found nothing but oil stains in his driveway from where his 1985 TD5, d90 with a galv frame was sitting (100% illegal), with a note from DHS. He bought it after being told it was a legal import by the salesman at the dealership in NC. Several of us told him it was shady, but he rolled the dice, and took a chance.... The one guy who had his truck seized while getting work done at the shop in the original seizures got fucked because of guilt by association, but would have lost his truck in this round as it had a 300tdi in it when it was imported.
I'm withya on the guy's who pushed their luck, sucks to be them and that attitude just wreaks over on 90source.
I'm withya on the guy's who pushed their luck, sucks to be them and that attitude just wreaks over on 90source.
The article from last year sums it all up pretty well.
"A few years ago, Customs and Border Protection sat down with several federal agencies—whose regulations it enforces at the borders and ports—to discuss deeper collaboration. They set up an office called Import Safety Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center, a very federal name for a joint project that let officials from CBP and these other agencies work in the same building and figure out how to best enforce import rules. Customs executives asked NHTSA what its pain points were with unauthorized vehicles coming into the country. The answer? Defenders."
Another interesting tidbit "Meanwhile, nobody at either NHTSA or CBP could comment on the status of Aaron Richardet, the chiropractor. Several people in the Defender community have told us that “Doc Aaron” was running a business importing later-model Defenders; if that’s true, he’s likely facing trouble."
http://blog.caranddriver.com/exclusive-feds-declare-war-on-black-market-land-rover-defenders/
"A few years ago, Customs and Border Protection sat down with several federal agencies—whose regulations it enforces at the borders and ports—to discuss deeper collaboration. They set up an office called Import Safety Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center, a very federal name for a joint project that let officials from CBP and these other agencies work in the same building and figure out how to best enforce import rules. Customs executives asked NHTSA what its pain points were with unauthorized vehicles coming into the country. The answer? Defenders."
Another interesting tidbit "Meanwhile, nobody at either NHTSA or CBP could comment on the status of Aaron Richardet, the chiropractor. Several people in the Defender community have told us that “Doc Aaron” was running a business importing later-model Defenders; if that’s true, he’s likely facing trouble."
http://blog.caranddriver.com/exclusive-feds-declare-war-on-black-market-land-rover-defenders/
Well, they're lawyered up now, so the whole thread has changed from "I will punch your teeth so far down your throat you'll be shitting teeth for weeks," to "cheers mate, well done, beers on me," and "where can I donate via paypal?"
That was up there with some of the epic dweb threads.
That was up there with some of the epic dweb threads.
If the trucks where not stolen why couldn't they be sold as off road trucks? There are two state run off roads parks in Indiana less a two hour drive from home. Half if not more of the rigs that use them are not street legal and where a former jeep of some sort. Why couldn't the same be done with a Land Rover?
ptschram
Well-known member
For my sake, I hope they don't' start coming after nickel and dime importers who were stupid enough to execute "Declaration of Importer Status" documents and actually pay for a bond and STILL have stuff seized regularly.
My records? Yeah, um, er, they were right over there, the Shop Moggy must have eaten them...
My records? Yeah, um, er, they were right over there, the Shop Moggy must have eaten them...
Tell them the records were on a used government surplus IRS computer and the hard drive crashed and you had it destroyed.
You saw my 110. It was a "1985" with a VIN that decoded for RHD V8 Station Wagon. It was RHD 300 tdi double cab pick-up. It was Vesuvius Orange with Puma doors with roll up windows and push button doors. It was definitely not compliant and has probably been seized. Aaron was the importer. Fortunately for the current owner (whoever it is) Va DMV left out a digit in the VIN, so its probably more difficult to seize.
Untitled
Why is there still a discussion here? It's pretty straight forward really. Break the law and pay the consequences. Why all the hate and macho anti-government talk about an agency actually doing its job?
Why someone wants to spend money on a vehicle - ANY vehicle - only to have to doctor up some VIN numbers to use it is beyond me but then again, a fool and his money are lucky to get together in the first place.
Why someone wants to spend money on a vehicle - ANY vehicle - only to have to doctor up some VIN numbers to use it is beyond me but then again, a fool and his money are lucky to get together in the first place.
A shit box that doesn't depreciate. What quality 5 speed transmission is in your DII? An R380? That's a shitbox.
I'm just pissed because of how much value my D2 lost.