H.B. 260

1

MOTOR VEHICLE BUSINESS REGULATIONS
2 1999 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Greg J. Curtis
5 AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING DEALER LICENSING
6 PROVISIONS; REQUIRING CERTAIN EDUCATION FOR DEALERS; AMENDING DEALER
7 BOND PROVISIONS; AND MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
10 41-3-201, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 234, Laws of Utah 1992
11 41-3-205, as last amended by Chapter 165, Laws of Utah 1998
12 41-3-206, as enacted by Chapter 234, Laws of Utah 1992
13 41-3-404, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 234, Laws of Utah 1992
14 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
15 Section 1. Section 41-3-201 is amended to read:
16 41-3-201. Licenses required -- Restitution -- Education.
17 (1) As used in this section, "new applicant" means a person who is applying for a license
18 that the person has not been issued during the previous licensing year.
19 [(1)] (2) A person may not act as any of the following without having procured a license
20 issued by the administrator: a dealer, salesperson, manufacturer, transporter, dismantler,
21 distributor, factory branch and representative, distributor branch and representative, crusher,
22 remanufacturer, and body shop.
23 [(2)] (3) A supplemental license shall be secured by a dealer, manufacturer,
24 remanufacturer, transporter, dismantler, crusher, or body shop for each additional place of business
25 maintained by him.
26 (4) A person who has been convicted of any law relating to motor vehicle commerce or
27 motor vehicle fraud may not be issued a license unless full restitution regarding those convictions

28 has been made.
29 (5) (a) Beginning July 1, 1999, the division may not issue a license to a new applicant for
30 a new or used motor vehicle license unless the new applicant completes an eight-hour orientation
31 class approved by the division that includes education on motor vehicle laws and rules.
32 (b) Any costs of the approved orientation class shall be paid by the new applicant.
33 (c) The class shall be completed by the new applicant and the applicant's partners,
34 corporate officers, bond indemnitors, and managers.
35 (d) The division may provide the orientation class or approve other providers of the class.
36 Section 2. Section 41-3-205 is amended to read:
37 41-3-205. Licenses -- Bonds required -- Maximum liability -- Action against surety
38 -- Loss of bond.
39 (1) (a) Before a dealer's, special equipment dealer's, crusher's, or body shop's license is
40 issued the applicant shall file with the administrator a corporate surety bond in the amount of:
41 (i) [$20,000] $60,000 for a motor vehicle dealer's license or special equipment dealer's
42 license;
43 (ii) $1,000 for a motorcycle or small trailer dealer's or crusher's license; or
44 (iii) $10,000 for a body shop's license.
45 (b) The corporate surety shall be licensed to do business within the state and have a rating
46 of at least B+ by the A.M. Best Company.
47 (c) The form of the bond:
48 (i) shall be approved by the attorney general;
49 (ii) shall be conditioned upon the applicant's conducting business as a dealer without fraud
50 or fraudulent representation and without violating [this chapter] Section 41-3-210 ; and
51 (iii) may be continuous in form.
52 (d) The total aggregate [annual] liability on the bond to all persons making claims,
53 regardless of the number of claimants or the number of years a bond remains in force, may not
54 exceed the amount of the bond.
55 (2) A cause of action under Subsection (1) may not be maintained against a surety unless:
56 (a) a claim is filed in writing with the administrator within one year after the cause of
57 action arose; and
58 (b) the action is commenced within two years after the claim was filed with the

59 administrator.
60 (3) A person making a claim on the bond shall be awarded attorneys' fees in cases
61 successfully prosecuted or settled against the surety or principal if the bond has not been depleted.
62 (4) (a) (i) If a dealer, body shop, or crusher loses possession of the bond required by this
63 chapter, the dealer, body shop, or crusher license is automatically suspended.
64 (ii) All licenses, pocket cards, temporary permits, and special plates issued to the licensee
65 shall be immediately returned to the administrator.
66 (b) A dealer, body shop, or crusher may not continue to use or permit to be used licenses,
67 pocket cards, temporary permits, or special plates until the required bond is on file with the
68 administrator and the license has been reinstated.
69 (5) A representative or consignee of a dealer is not required to file a bond if the dealer for
70 whom the representative or consignee acts fully complies with the provisions of this chapter.
71 Section 3. Section 41-3-206 is amended to read:
72 41-3-206. Duration of licenses -- Expiration date -- Renewal.
73 (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), each license issued under this chapter expires
74 on June 30 of each year and may be renewed upon application and payment of a fee required under
75 Section 41-3-601 , if the license has not been suspended or revoked.
76 (2) A motor vehicle salesperson's license expires as provided under Subsection (1) or when
77 the salesperson terminates employment with the dealer with whom he is licensed, whichever
78 comes first.
79 (3) (a) Beginning July 1, 1999, the division may not renew a license for a new or used
80 motor vehicle dealer's license unless the renewal applicant completes a three-hour class approved
81 by the division that includes education on all new motor vehicle laws and rules.
82 (b) Any costs of the approved class shall be paid by the renewal applicant.
83 (c) The class shall be completed by the renewal applicant or any designated representative
84 of the renewal applicant dealership.
85 (d) The division may provide the class or approve other providers of the class.
86 Section 4. Section 41-3-404 is amended to read:
87 41-3-404. Right of action against dealer, salesperson, crusher, body shop, or surety
88 on bond.
89 (1) A person may maintain an action against a dealer, crusher, or body shop on the

90 corporate surety bond if:
91 (a) the person suffers a loss or damage because of:
92 (i) fraud;
93 (ii) fraudulent representation; or
94 (iii) a violation of[:] Section 41-3-210 ; or
95 [(A) this chapter;]
96 [(B) any law respecting commerce in motor vehicles; or]
97 [(C) a rule respecting commerce in motor vehicles made by a licensing or regulating
98 authority; and]
99 (b) the loss or damage results from the action of:
100 (i) a licensed dealer;
101 (ii) a licensed dealer's salesperson acting on behalf of the dealer or within the scope of the
102 salesperson's employment;
103 (iii) a licensed crusher; or
104 (iv) a body shop.
105 (2) Successive recovery against a surety on a bond is permitted, but the total aggregate
106 [annual] liability on the bond to all persons making claims, regardless of the number of claimants
107 or the number of years a bond remains in force, may not exceed the amount of the bond.
108 (3) A cause of action may not be maintained against any surety under any bond required
109 under this chapter except as provided in Section 41-3-205 .




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-29-98 2:22 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel