A Honolulu teen was arrested this weekend for using a bad check to buy a used car from an unsuspecting seller.

A 34-year-old Kalihili man put his used vehicle up for sale on Craigslist and was contacted by an 18-year-old buyer. The buyer conned the seller by paying with a check, which bounced when the seller tried to cash it, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Police found the car when the teen pulled into a harbor without his lights on at 1:30 AM. A suspicious officer ran the plate and found that the car had been reported stolen. The alleged con artist was placed under arrest and is currently in custody.

Some drivers trying to find deals on vehicles go to websites like Craigslist in search of driver-to-driver sales. Often, these can result in either party being scammed. Consumers have little protection in these situations. Had the teen left town with the vehicle, the seller would have had no recourse.

Its safest to shop at used car dealerships or auto auctions, where deals can still be found in a regulated and controlled environment.

Those in the New York area who want to adopt one of the upcoming electric vehicle models but are worried about the cost just got some good news.

Through a government federal grant program, home chargers – which can run upwards of $2,000 – will be given away for free to select early adopters of electric vehicles, according to the New York Times. It’s part of the government’s initiative to increase America’s fuel economy and get electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road.

Coulumb, a California-based company, manufactures the chargers for electric vehicles that will be distributed through the program to nine regions across the country, including New York.

"We’re excited about being in New York, because aside from the Mini E program and the Tesla Roadster, it hasn’t seen much E.V. action," CEO Richard Lowenthal told the news source. "We expect to have a great reception there.”

Consumers who want to be more fuel-efficient now can save money by purchasing hybrid cars from a used car dealership. In addition, New York used car dealers should have electric models in stock shortly after their release later this year.

Several media outlets are reporting that an undisclosed buyer has agreed to purchase a 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic for between $30 and $40 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold at auction.

The vehicle, which once belonged to late car collector Peter Williamson, has been declared the most valuable car in the world by Autoblog Magazine. The previous record sale for a car at auction occurred last year, when another undisclosed buyer paid $12.2 million for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.

“I am extremely pleased to have found the new buyer for the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, one of the world’s most significant and valuable automobiles that has been in a private collection and rarely seen during the past four decades,” said David Gooding, founder of Gooding and Company, the automotive auction house that brokered the deal.

As with most high-end purchases, the auto auction refused to identify the new buyer. However, Gooding did indicate that he or she is “a devoted connoisseur” of automotive history. The only other 1936 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic in existence today is owned by famed fashion designer Ralph Lauren.

In an effort to track the nation’s recovery from the recession, many experts look to the U.S. auto industry as a barometer for economic improvement. Over the last four months, new and used car sales have steadily risen, giving hope to many that the turbulent economic conditions of 2008 are now behind us.

Since the beginning of the year, U.S. auto sales have increased each month, resulting in 162,610 more vehicles being purchased compared to the same 4-month stretch in 2009, according to Auto Week.

Specifically, Nissan North America had the most impressive April, increasing their sales by 35 percent compared to March. Ford, Chrysler, Hyundai–Kia and Toyota also had excellent months. However, based simply on overall volume of sales, General Motors sported the number one ranking for April.

“We’re seeing the ebb and flow of the market recovery,” Joseph Phillippi, president of AutoTrends Consulting, told Business Week. “We’re still working our way off the bottom. A rising tide lifts all boats, but some are lighter than others.”

Michelle Krebs, a research analyst with Edmunds.com, noted that the car manufacturers that are having the most success are those that sell moderately priced vehicles.

Fewer than one in four teenage drivers in New Jersey are abiding by the state’s new law that requires them to purchase and display a red decal sticker that identifies them as a motorist who is under the age of 20.

The legislation, known as Kyleigh’s Law, is designed to help police enforce passenger limits, driving curfews and other provisional license restrictions, according to APP.com.

Teenagers who do not purchase the red decal stickers from one of the State Motor Vehicle Commission’s offices are subject to a $100 fine.
While some support the new measure, which went into effect on May 1, many believe that it may persuade criminals to prey on teenager motorists and will subject them to profiling by police.

“Kyleigh’s Law doesn’t prevent car crashes,” Hal Levy, a 20-year-old member of the board of the National Youth Rights Association, told WCBSTV.com. “It’s more of a feel-good law, at the expense of young people. We oppose the profiling by police and the stalking.”

Several members of the State Assembly are planning to introduce a piece of legislation that would force the governor’s office to rescind the bill.