volume 3, 2015
MECHANICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT
Providing the buyer with
a mechanical fitness
assessment is optional
True or False?
The mechanical fitness
Only auctions can sell a
assessment is also known
vehicle without a mechanical as the AMVIC inspection
fitness assessment
Fact: You are legally required to
provide the potential buyer with
a completed mechanical fitness
assessment before they enter into
a sales contract to buy
a used vehicle.
Fact: Auctions do not have to
provide a buyer with a completed
mechanical fitness assesment.
A vehicle can be sold even
if it does not fully comply
with all items listed on
the mechanical fitness
assessment
form
Fact: At the time of sale, the
seller must include a statement
certifying if the vehicle does
or does not comply with
the Vehicle Equipment
Regulation. The seller must
also provide the buyer
with a description of the
items of equipment that
are missing or do not
comply with the Vehicle
Equipment Regulation.
Fact: The mechanical fitness
assessment is commonly
misidentified as an “AMVIC
inspection”. There is no such
thing as an “AMVIC inspection”
or a vehicle that is “AMVIC
certified”. AMVIC does enforce
the use of the mechanical fitness
assessment form which is a
requirement under the Traffic
Safety Act.
A mechanical fitness
assessment is valid for
120 days
Fact: A mechanical fitness
assessment is valid for 120 days
after the date it was issued. Once
it has expired a new assessment
must be completed prior to
entering into a sales contract.
CLICK HERE to access the MFA form
Protecting personal information
Are you complying with the law?
The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) sets out rules for Alberta
businesses for the collection, use and/or disclosure of personal information.
A business must...
Only collect, use or disclose personal information
to the extent that is necessary to meet the reasonable
business purposes.
Report any incident resulting in a breach of privacy to
the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner if there
is a real risk of significant harm to individuals as a result of
the loss of, or unauthorized access to, use, or disclosure of their
personal information.
Protect the personal information it collects to
prevent any unauthorized access, usage, disclosure, copying,
modification, disposal, or destruction.
Securely destroy personal
information or render it
non-identifying within a
reasonable time period after
it is no longer required for
Designate an individual to be responsible for ensuring
business or legal purposes.
the organization is compliant with PIPA. This individual is often referred
to as a “Privacy Officer”.
Consent-- For the most part a business must obtain consent
from anyone whose personal information it collects. It must
also notify the individual as to the purpose of collection
and may also indicate how the information will be used
or disclosed. For more information on how to obtain valid
consent see sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of PIPA.
Can I photocopy a driver’s licence to verify ID?
Generally, to verify identification you should not photocopy
a driver’s licence. Instead, create a method of recording
that the identification has been verified. Creating a record of
driver’s licences should only be done if it is necessary for your
organization’s purposes.
Note: Records containing copies of driver’s licences should be
properly stored and promptly destroyed when no longer required.
Click here for more information
Important to note:
• A business must not collect, use
or disclose personal information
for any other purpose than those
for which they have received
consent, unless otherwise
authorized by PIPA.
• A business cannot require
consent beyond what is
reasonably necessary to provide a
product or service.
• A business can subject an
individual’s consent to any
reasonable terms, conditions or
qualifications that are acceptable
to the individual.
• Individuals may withdraw or vary
their consent at any time and be
advised of the implications. At no
time may a withdrawn consent
disrupt any legal obligation.
• Consent is not valid when it is
provided or obtained through
false, misleading or deceptive
information or practices.
Page 2
business and legal purposes.
authorized under PIPA.
IMPACT is published by AMVIC for registrants and licensees
Only keep personal
information when it is
reasonably required for
Get the individual’s
consent unless otherwise
Did you know…
AMVIC works closely with other
enforcement agencies
“The group enters a business
at once but each organization
does its own inspection and may
take appropriate action to bring
them into compliance,” Derek
Blackman-Shaw, AMVIC’s senior
manager of investigations said.
“By working together the
process becomes more
thorough and efficient for all
involved,” Edmonton Police
Const. Jacqueline Buchanan
said. “It’s also an opportunity
to share knowledge and gain
an understanding of what other
organizations enforce.”
The team has worked together
for several years.
“Coordinating inspections also
helps to ensure that people with
the right expertise are there to
answer questions and follow up
on the spot,” Blackman-Shaw
said.
New faces on the
AMVIC Board
STOCK PHOTO: Tui-PhotoEngineer/Shutterstock.com
Under the Automotive
Business Regulation
section 4(1) a business
may be refused an
AMVIC business licence
or denied renewal if
the applicant is not
complying with all laws,
including municipal
bylaws that apply to the
automotive business.
Page 3
The organizations that may
be involved include the City of
Edmonton, Alberta Occupational
Health and Safety, Alberta
Apprenticeship and Industry
Training, Alberta Transportation
and Edmonton Police Service.
A recent operation coordinated
by AMVIC was at request of the
Edmonton Police Service.
Two new directors started their
terms on the AMVIC board at the
Annual General Meeting in June.
Cindy Clark joins AMVIC as an
Industry-at-large director.
Bill Burnett has been appointed
by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers
Association of Alberta.
Each of their terms end in June
2018.
The 13-director AMVIC board
provides oversight, overall
governance and direction to AMVIC.
Cindy Clark
Industry-at-large
Calgary, Alta.
Bill Burnett
RVDA Alberta
Edmonton, Alta.
Click here to find out who else is on the AMVIC board.
Two of the seven industry directors
are nominated from industry-atlarge. They must be an owner or
employee of an automotive business
in Alberta.
Five directors are appointed by
motor vehicle industry associations.
The remaining six directors are
appointed by the Minister of Service
Alberta from the public.
IMPACT is published by AMVIC for registrants and licensees
AMVIC partners with Edmonton’s
Multi Enforcement Agency Team
when an automotive business
is facing compliance issues
involving more than one law
enforcement agency and/or
regulator.
Largest curber conviction
2014 Rookie of the Year driver Matthew
Scannell of the Bray Autosport team
was behind the wheel for the 300 lap
event held at the Edmonton International
Raceway.
Scannell and AMVIC employees handed
out AMVIC tip cards and earplugs during
the autograph session. This sponsorship
aligns with AMVIC’s goal to generate more
awareness of AMVIC and its mandate.
The July 11 event was the only Alberta stop
on the tour.
education manager said. “We want
consumers, industry members and
even curious neighbours to warn
us about suspected curbers.”
Curbers may sell vehicles that
are poorly repaired and with rolled
back odometers.
“AMVIC-licensed sellers are
required to meet the province’s
vehicle sales regulations, pass
AMVIC’s salesperson course
and follow Alberta’s consumer
protection laws,” Lowe said.
Remember, anyone in the
business of selling motor vehicles,
including RVs, must be licensed—
it’s the law.
New!
You can now view and
print your receipts
from your profile on
AMVIC’s online portal.
How?
step 1
Log on to the
AMVIC Online
portal
PHOTO: Driver
Matthew
Scannell
signing
autographs.
step 2
On left side under
payments click
“payment receipts”
(Right) AMVIC
employee Pam
Smith during
the autograph
session at the
Edmonton
International
Raceway.
step 3
Click “view” on
whatever receipt
you want to view
and then you can
print it.
Page 4
AMVIC sponsored #56 during the
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
event “Alberta Has Energy 300.”
to three unsuspecting Albertans
from his southeast Edmonton
home in the neighbourhood of Mill
Woods.
In all three cases he
misrepresented the vehicles he
was selling. He also placed more
than 109 advertisements for
vehicles on an online classifieds
site, again posing as a private
seller.
“AMVIC is committed to a fair
marketplace and ensuring
that everyone engaged in
retailing vehicles is licensed
appropriately,” Laura Lowe,
AMVIC’s communications and
IMPACT is published by AMVIC for registrants and licensees
An Edmonton man guilty of
curbing is facing a total of $9,000
in fines plus victim surcharges. On
June 29, 2015 in an Edmonton
Provincial Court Roger Fortier
pleaded guilty to two counts under
the Fair Trading Act for selling
vehicles without a licence.
Anyone in the business of selling
vehicles in Alberta must be
licensed by AMVIC, the province’s
automotive regulator. Curbers are
individuals or automotive sales
businesses operating without the
necessary licence.
Fortier is guilty of posing as a
private individual selling vehicles