Rogue garage workers could face a crackdown after a body shop mechanic wrecked a customer's car in a crash.

Transport Minister Wayne Furbert said new laws could be introduced after workshop owner Kevin Busby was forced to pay a customer $20,000 in damages.

And Shadow Transport Minister Dennis Lister called on Government to remind garage owners of their "responsibilities and liabilities''.

Mr. Busby, who runs Busby's Paint and Body Shop in Pembroke, was found to be liable after employee Patrick Durham crashed a Suzuki Jeep.

Durham, of Middle Road, Devonshire, was fined $1,500 after admitting smashing the jeep into a wall in June, 1994.

He was arrested after Police found the jeep overturned on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish. A Supreme Court ruling in August ordered Mr. Busby to pay the damages plus costs to Karla Preece, who had left the jeep to have its bumpers resprayed.

Mr. Furbert said laws protecting drivers who leave their cars at garages were already "very tough''.

But he added they would be made stricter if there were more incidents of cars being crashed by garage workers.

Mr. Furbert said: "We need to take this seriously. Thankfully this is a rare occurrence and at the moment, the law appears to be adequate.

"That is why the damages were awarded in this case and Bermuda's motoring public can be reassured by that.

"But if this happens more often or there's reason in the future to tighten things up, we will do so. Bermuda's drivers should also rest assured of that.'' Shadow Transport Minister Mr. Lister said: "Regardless of whether or not the safeguards are in place, it would be pertinent for the Government to remind all garages and mechanics of their responsibilities and liabilities when they are looking after customers' cars.

"It could be as simple as a memo being sent out from the Transport Control Department to remind garages that they do have certain obligations to fulfil.'' A TCD spokesman said strict guidelines were already in place to protect drivers.

And he said he only remembered one similar incident -- 30 years ago.

He added: "That was when a garage employee had a car on the road and it was involved in a very serious accident.

"The car was practically totalled and the garage had to pay for repairs and have everything replaced.

"There are safeguards in place and they have been there for many years.

"A garage is responsible for anything that happens to a vehicle as a result of an employee's actions. These incidents are very, very rare which proves that those checks are in place.'' He said mechanics who take cars out for road tests also need to display trade plates and carry a "journey slip'' signed by the foreman or manager.

"Garages have these trade plates and journey books and that's what covers them from an insurance point of view,'' said Mr. Johnson. "Otherwise, if the regulations aren't followed then the garage will become liable.'' TRANSPORTATION TRA GOVERNMENT GVT