HOUSTON -- Police are cracking down on used car salesmen, but you won’t find these dealers at a normal car lot.

These vehicles are sold on the side of the road. Those types of businesses, police say, are called curbstoners.

They say it’s a big problem in Houston.

“You buy something off the side of the street and you’re stuck with it. There’s really no recourse,” said HPD Officer Steve Franklin.

Police say those cars may seem like a good deal, but most of the time the salesmen are unlicensed.

11 News was there when Eli Borrego found out the repercussions of dealing cars without the right licenses.

“You know that’s not right,” said Borrego. “You’re towing my vehicles man.”

Four of Borrego’s vehicles were towed, but police say he was warned about the practice.

Burrego claims he thought the officer was an imposter.

Authorities say Burrego can get these cars back, but he’ll have to pay for the towing.

There are so many curbstone cars out there that, police say, all they can do is roll out the offenders one car at a time.