The Government of Saskatchewan's Financial Consumer Affairs Authority has received information that "Marty's Auto Sales" in Humboldt is operating without a dealer's license.

In a release sent out Wednesday the FCAA has directed Kyle Martin to cease his sales activities.

It is an offense to sell vehicles with "for sale" signs on the side of the road such as Martin is doing at the corner of Glenn Hall Drive and 14th Street. The practice is referred to as "curbing."

Consumer Protection Division Deputy Director Denny Huyghebaert explains more.

"We received a tip sometime ago and during the course of our investigation we determined that this individual was acting as an unlicensed dealer. If you are in the business of buying and selling vehicles for profit you need to be licensed, that's what we call the curbing activity."

Dealer licensing is a program overseen by the provincial government which is why they issued the release. The City of Humboldt did approve the rezoning of the building at a council meeting earlier this year.

"Earlier this year the city did authorize a 'discretionary use' for Marty's Auto Sales to operate at his location within the city," Director Community Development Jennifer Brooks explained following the news. "The vehicle dealer licensing was a condition to operate that he needed to receive from the province."

Huyghebaert warns buyers to be aware.

"If you are buying from an unlicensed dealer it is a higher risk activity. you can always double check to see if a dealer is licensed, we have a website. It's real time, it has all the licensed dealers on there and when you buy from a licensed dealer consumers enjoy greater protections."

Martin is facing an estimated 20 charges, he will return to court in Humboldt July 18th, he made his first appearance on June 20th.

Brooks adds that they will continue to monitor the situation and take the proper steps to alleviate these concerns for them and residents.

"As the vehicle dealer licensing process is not anything that's managed by the municipality and certainly following the province's issuance of a consumer alert the city will review it's options regarding his business activity in the community."

Happy's Auto Service, the adjoining business is not included within the allegations.

You can hear more from both Huyghebaert and Brooks below.