Settlement rejected in questioned trailer deal

A state commission has rejected a settlement offer from a politically connected motorcycle shop that did not have a license to sell travel trailers when it started selling post-hurricane housing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Louisiana Recreational and Used Motor Vehicle Commission on Tuesday found that Bourget's of the South, located in River Ridge, violated state law with the FEMA deal. The shop is owned by the father and uncle of state Rep. Gary Smith, D-Norco.

The commission rejected an offer by the uncle, Glen Smith, to plead no contest and pay a $10,000 fine for selling the trailers without the proper license. The commission then voted to hold a full hearing as early as next month.