States have agents assigned to thwart curbstoning, but there are not enough agents to do this job because they have other duties to attend to. Because of this, there are very few sanctions against curbstoners. Criminal convictions are minimal. States can reprimand licensed dealers who engaged in curbstoning, but even this is not enough.
eBay auction website has also employed methods to combat curbstoning. eBay will suspend any account holder and cooperate with law enforcement. What happens many times, however, is that once an account is suspended, the crooked sellers simply open up a new user id and re-engage in crooked sales.
If you are in the marketing for a used car, and the seller does not have a title in their name, beware. A buyer purchasing a used car from an unlicensed seller runs a high risk that:
1. The vehicle may be stolen.
2. You may not get a clear title, unless a remedy or court order is sought and ruled in your favor.
3. The vehicle may have a rolled-back odometer.
4. The vehicle may be salvaged, reconditioned, or flood damaged.
5. The vehicle may have a lien that has not been properly released.
6. The vehicle may have been sold for EXPORT ONLY.
