Armstrong v. Boyce

135 Misc. 2d 148, 513 N.Y.S.2d 613, 1987 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2193
CourtWatertown City Court
DecidedMarch 10, 1987
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 135 Misc. 2d 148 (Armstrong v. Boyce) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Watertown City Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Armstrong v. Boyce, 135 Misc. 2d 148, 513 N.Y.S.2d 613, 1987 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2193 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

James C. Harberson, Jr., J.

The three cases involved in this decision present an opportunity to outline two laws in New York which afford the purchaser of a used car protection from defects in the vehicle upon delivery and for a reasonable period subsequent to delivery of the automobile for certain key parts of the vehicle.

This decision must involve section 417 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of New York and section 198-b of the General Business Law. An examination of each statute to ascertain how it differs from and how it complements the other law, helps clarify the duty of the used car dealer and the rights of a purchaser of a used vehicle upon delivery and following delivery.

Pursuant to section 417 of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, the Legislature gave the used car buyer a warranty that the car "is in condition and repair to render, under normal use, satisfactory and adequate service upon the public highway at the time of delivery.” (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 417.)

Section 417 imposed upon the dealer the obligation he inspect the vehicle to ensure it complied with the requirements imposed by the regulations of the Commisioner of Motor Vehicles. The regulations are found in 15 NYCRR 78.13 (0.

15 NYCRR 78.13 (b) directs a dealer who sells secondhand cars to deliver to the purchaser a bill of sale on which is printed: "If this motor vehicle is classified as a used motor vehicle, (name of dealer) certifies that the entire vehicle is in condition and repair to render, under normal use, satisfactory and adequate service upon the public highway at the time of delivery.”

15 NYCRR 78.13 (c) provides that all used cars must be inspected for certain items of equipment "and such equipment [150]*150must meet the standards set forth herein before the certification set forth in subdivision (b) of this section may be issued”. Paragraph (c) goes on to outline 18 separate items to be checked by the dealer who then can certify as required by section 417 that the used vehicle "is in condition and repair to render, under normal use, satisfactory and adequate service upon the public highway at the time of delivery.”

Section 417 further provides that the failure of the dealer to give the purchaser such a certificate, or a false certification is made for the inspection outlined above shall constitute a violation of section 417.

There is a further inspection of motor vehicles outlined at 15 NYCRR 79.21 required of all cars once per year before an annual registration is permitted. This is an additional inspection and does not satisfy the requirements of section 417 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law as outlined at 15 NYCRR 78.13 (c). (Rice v Burritt Motors, 124 Misc 2d 712, 713; Natale v Martin Volkswagen, 92 Misc 2d 1046, 1049-1050; Pierce v International Harvester Co., 61 AD2d 255, 259-261.)

At the time of the amendment to the precursor to section 417 in 1954 (L 1954, ch 86) the Motor Vehicle Department urged passage saying "This measure is primarily designed to protect the purchasers from being sold an improperly equipped or defective vehicle.” (1954 NY Legis Ann, at 264.) The comment noted that the dealer was in a better position to make the appropriate inspection rather than the purchaser to be certain that the car is not defective.

The various court decisions have made clear section 417 provides a "warranty of serviceability” which cannot be waived. (Dato v Vatland, 36 Misc 2d 636; Natale v Martin Volkswagen, 92 Misc 2d 1046, supra; Pierce v International Harvester Co., 61 AD2d 255, supra; Maure v Fordham Motor Sales, 98 Misc 2d 979; Rayhn v Martin Nemer Volkswagen Corp., 77 AD2d 394, appeal dismissed 53 NY2d 796; Matter of Ann-Son Auto Sales v Commissioner of Dept. of Motor Vehicles, 83 AD2d 759; McCormack v Lynn Imports, 114 Misc 2d 905; Pinelli v De Paula Chevrolet, 101 AD2d 643; Rice v Burritt Motors, 124 Misc 2d 712, supra; Cintron v Tony Royal Quality Used Cars, 132 Misc 2d 75; see, 30 Syracuse L Rev 264-265.)

In Vatland the court made the plain statement "[t]he warranty created by section 417 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law cannot be waived.” (Data v Vatland, supra, at 637.)

[151]*151Natale clearly states that compliance with section 417 was a "statutory warranty that cannot be waived” but that "[t]his was not only a matter of protection to the consumer, but also a matter of highway safety.” (Natale v Martin Volkswagen, supra, at 1050.)

Pierce agrees with Natale (supra) finding that section 417 "was designed in part to protect the public in general * * * [and] purchasers of used motor vehicles” (Pierce v International Harvester Co., supra, at 260.)

Maure cites Pierce (supra) saying "It is the policy of this State to protect purchasers of used vehicles from being sold defective vehicles.” (Maure v Fordham Motor Sales, supra, at 983.)

Pinelli commented that section "417 imposes an absolute and nonwaivable responsibility on used car dealers to deliver used cars 'in condition to render adequate and satisfactory service’ ” (Pinelli v De Paula Chevrolet, supra, at 644).

Rayhn clearly outlined section 417 finding "the Legislature intended to impose an absolute responsibility upon the used vehicle dealers in this State to sell only motor vehicles in condition to render adequate and satisfactory service upon highways at the time of delivery. The statute does not provide for any contractual waiver or limitation upon the responsibility for a satisfactory operating condition.” (Rayhn v Martin Nemer Volkswagen Corp., supra, at 396.)

Section 417 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, then, imposes a nonwaivable obligation upon a used car dealer to deliver a car that complies with section 417 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law and 15 NYCRR 78.13. Once the car is delivered in such condition the requirements are met. It is for this reason that the Legislature enacted section 198-b of the General Business Law of New York (L 1984, ch 645).

Section 198-b is the "used car lemon law”. It was enacted because section 417 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law did not alone provide sufficient protection. Mollie Lampi, associate counsel for the State Consumer Protection Board in a memorandum to Governor Cuomo of July 9, 1984 pointed out that their bureau was receiving over 400 complaints per year involving cars not being in the condition as promised. She said: "Those complaints demonstrate that buying a used car today constitutes a costly and painful guessing game.” She continued: "Moreover, purchasers are often assured that a dealer will correct any defects later discovered although most [152]*152mechanical difficulties arise within ten days to a month after purchase the car owner, upon returning to the dealer, often finds that the oral repair promise is not honored, even though such failure to repair breaches New York State’s warranty of serviceability. [417].”

The Attorney-General Office’s memorandum to Senate No. 35-84 described section 198-b of the General Business Law as a supplement to section 417 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, and expressly provides that nothing in section 198-b: "shall in any way limit the rights or remedies which are otherwise available to a consumer under any other law.”

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Bluebook (online)
135 Misc. 2d 148, 513 N.Y.S.2d 613, 1987 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2193, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/armstrong-v-boyce-nywatertcityct-1987.