Upon the refurbishment of my gauge cluster the odometer was "reset" to 2.5 miles. I'm assuming that it was reset to 0.0 and then tested for several miles on the bench. As most of you already know, the mileage reading on one of these old truck odometers is more or less meaningless as many didn't even work due broken cables, etc.
Federal Odometer Laws and Regulations
Title 49 U.S.C., Chapter 327 (Formerly Title 15, Sections 1981-1990)
49 C.F.R., Sections 580.1-580.16 - Odometer Requirements
Violations -
Resetting or altering odometer with intent to change mileage.
Making false odometer disclosure statement.
Failure to provide buyer complete odometer disclosure statement.
If acquiring vehicle for resale, failure to obtain complete odometer disclosure statement from seller.
Conspiring to violate any of the Federal odometer statutes.
Civil Recovery -
$1,500 or,
treble damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees.
The
Florida Statutes certainly give me pause for reflection as I really don't know what the milage was prior to the "refurbishment" of the odometer, nor what the actual mileage was when I bought the truck. It would seem unreasonable that after a frame off restoration that the "real" actual mileage would be required as it is rendered pretty much meaningless.
I'm going to look into this further as I have no idea what to post on my door frame as required by law.
Note: I just spoke to someone at the local Department of Motor Vehicles and was told that any vehicle over 10 years old was exempt from the statues concerning the odometer readings. Nevertheless they could not direct me to the Statute providing for that particular exemption.
