The Virginian-Pilot 
                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 8, 1994                   TAG: 9407080536
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   44 lines

STATE WON'T RELEASE CAR DEALERS' NAMES AS INQUIRY CONTINUES

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles says it is continuing its probe into 19 Hampton Roads auto dealers charged in a raid late last month and, because of that, the agency refuses to identify those involved.

``DMV will not be releasing the names of the dealerships basically because we consider this an open investigation and it would be premature to release the names,'' said DMV spokeswoman Jeanne Chenault.

DMV investigators are briefing the commonwealth's attorneys of both Norfolk and Virginia Beach about the charges, Chenault said. Those offices in turn must file the charges against the dealerships in the criminal division of each city's general district court.

Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Humphreys and Norfolk Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Norman Thomas did not return phone calls seeking comment on the charges.

The identity of the 19 dealers may not be available until the charges are filed in court. That may not occur until the day before a preliminary hearing. Details about the charges may not be available until then either.

Investigators from the DMV and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service raided 20 dealerships in Norfolk and Virginia Beach on June 27. The raids were prompted by Navy concerns about how dealerships were treating Navy personnel.

The sweep has resulted in 136 misdemeanor charges against 19 dealerships - five new-car dealers and 14 used-car dealers. Another 230 misdemeanor charges are pending.

The alleged violations include a failure to maintain proper business records, failing to deliver vehicle titles within 30 days and allowing unlicensed sales people to solicit vehicle sales - a practice known as ``bird dogging.''

One of the more serious allegations is that some dealers abused the issuing of temporary tags.

A conviction on the most serious of the charges could lead to a jail term of up to one year or a $2,500 fine, or both. Some of the violations are punishable only by fines. by CNB