Hamden Car Dealer Denied License

The owner of a used car dealership who was arrested in June for allegedly selling a $40,000 car and keeping the cash won't be able to get back into business any time soon.

Shortly before he was arrested June 4, the state Department of Motor Vehicles revokes David Taylor's license to sell used cars at his business, Bernardo Motors, 2575 State St. 

Ten days after his arrest, Taylor applied to get his license back, and recently the DMV denied that request, stating that in addition to his criminal problems, his history of writing bad checks and owing tens of thousands of dollars to the state in sales tax precludes it from renewing the license.

Taylor's criminal case is still making its way through the court system. His next court date is Aug. 28, when he is due to appear in Meriden Superior Court. 

According to the DMV, Bernardo Motor's license was revoked on May 30 because Taylor had failed to pay a civil penalty that had been assessed the dealership.

"The DMV has examined your history as a dealer and it has concluede that you do not have sufficient financial resources to conduct a licensed business, and as a result have been unable to conform to the laws and regulations governing your dealership," it states. "This has resulted in multiple consumer complaints being filed against Bernardo with the DMV. There also are pending lawsuits and criminal matters that arise out of your conduct as a licensed dealer."

The letter states that Taylor bounced checks to the DMV and didn't pay sales tax to the state Department of Revenue Services on cars sold, resulting in more than $200,000 owed to it, not including penalties and interest.

In addition, Taylor still owes customers more than $7,000 for DMV claims that have already been adjudicated, the denial states, and there are more that are still being process in connection with the revoked license.

"Based upon your record with the DMV and the State of Connecticut, we have determined that issuing you a license is not consistant with the reasonable security and protection of your consumers."