Toronto Garage Fined for Catalytic Converter Violation

1104983 Ontario Inc., operating as Wali’s Auto Service, and Dawad Wali have been fined a total of $5,000 — plus victim fine surcharges — after being found guilty of two counts under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act (EPA). 1104983 Ontario Inc., operating as Wali’s Auto Service, is a garage and used-car dealership located in the City of Toronto. According to Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, in November 2002 the MOE received a complaint alleging that Wali’s Auto Service sold a vehicle without a catalytic converter. An investigation into the allegation confirmed that the vehicle in question did not have a catalytic converter at the time of sale. Dawad Wali, an officer of the corporation, and Wali’s Auto Service were charged accordingly. At the conclusion of the trial, the court convicted Wali’s Auto Service and Dawad Wali of selling a motor vehicle without a catalytic converter, contrary to Section 22(2), and permitting the operation of a motor vehicle with the catalytic converter removed, contrary to Section 5(4) (b) under the EPA. The parties were fined $3,000 and $2,000 respectively, plus victim fine surcharges. In addition, Wali’s Auto Service was ordered to pay to the purchaser of the vehicle within 30 days of sentencing restitution in an amount equal to the cost of installing a catalytic converter. Justice of the Peace Shailesh Dudani heard the trial and sentencing submissions on February 21, 2005 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Scarborough, Ontario.