1     
MOTOR VEHICLE BUSINESS AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Calvin R. Musselman

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the Motor Vehicle Business Regulation Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     allows a licensed motor vehicle salesperson to be employed by more than one dealer
13     within a group of dealers under common management, ownership, or control; and
14          ▸     provides that when a civil violation is committed by a dealer that operates within a
15     group of dealers under common management, ownership, or control, the civil
16     penalty shall be assessed only against the dealer that committed the civil violation.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          41-3-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 424
24          41-3-702, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 424
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 41-3-202 is amended to read:

28          41-3-202. Licenses -- Classes and scope.
29          (1) A new motor vehicle dealer's license permits the licensee to:
30          (a) offer for sale, sell, or exchange new motor vehicles if the licensee possesses a
31     franchise from the manufacturer of the motor vehicle offered for sale, sold, or exchanged by the
32     licensee;
33          (b) offer for sale, sell, or exchange used motor vehicles;
34          (c) operate as a body shop; and
35          (d) dismantle motor vehicles.
36          (2) A used motor vehicle dealer's license permits the licensee to:
37          (a) offer for sale, sell, or exchange used motor vehicles;
38          (b) operate as a body shop; and
39          (c) dismantle motor vehicles.
40          (3) A direct-sale manufacturer's license permits the licensee to:
41          (a) offer for sale, sell, or exchange new motor vehicles of the same line-make that the
42     direct-sale manufacturer manufactures;
43          (b) offer for sale, sell, or exchange used motor vehicles;
44          (c) operate as a body shop; and
45          (d) dismantle motor vehicles.
46          (4) A new motorcycle, off-highway vehicle, and small trailer dealer's license permits
47     the licensee to:
48          (a) offer for sale, sell, or exchange new motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, or small
49     trailers if the licensee possesses a franchise from the manufacturer of the motorcycle,
50     off-highway vehicle, or small trailer offered for sale, sold, or exchanged by the licensee;
51          (b) offer for sale, sell, or exchange used motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, or small
52     trailers; and
53          (c) dismantle motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, or small trailers.
54          (5) A used motorcycle, off-highway vehicle, and small trailer dealer's license permits
55     the licensee to:
56          (a) offer for sale, sell, or exchange used motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, and small
57     trailers; and
58          (b) dismantle motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, or small trailers.

59          (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), a salesperson's license permits the
60     licensee to act as a motor vehicle salesperson and is valid for employment with only one dealer
61     at a time.
62          (b) (i) A licensee that has been issued a salesperson's license and that is employed by a
63     dealer that operates as a wholesale motor vehicle auction may be employed by more than one
64     dealer that operates as a wholesale motor vehicle auction at a time.
65          (ii) A licensee that has been issued a salesperson's license and that is employed by a
66     dealer that operates as part of a group of dealers under common management, ownership, or
67     control may be employed by more than one dealer within the group of dealers.
68          (7) (a) A direct-sale manufacturer salesperson's license permits the licensee to act as a
69     direct-sale manufacturer salesperson for one direct-sales manufacturer.
70          (b) A direct-sale manufacturer salesperson licensee may not simultaneously hold a
71     salesperson's license.
72          (8) (a) A manufacturer's license permits the licensee to construct or assemble motor
73     vehicles subject to registration under Title 41, Chapter 1a, Motor Vehicle Act, at an established
74     place of business and to remanufacture motor vehicles.
75          (b) Under rules the administrator makes, the licensee may issue and install vehicle
76     identification numbers on manufactured motor vehicles.
77          (c) The licensee may franchise and appoint dealers to sell manufactured motor vehicles
78     by notifying the division of the franchise or appointment.
79          (9) (a) A transporter's license permits the licensee to transport or deliver motor vehicles
80     subject to registration under Title 41, Chapter 1a, Motor Vehicle Act, from a manufacturing,
81     assembling, or distributing point or from a dealer, to dealers, distributors, or sales agents of a
82     manufacturer or remanufacturer, to or from detail or repair shops, and to financial institutions
83     or places of storage from points of repossession.
84          (b) The division may not issue or renew a transporter license to an applicant who is
85     not:
86          (i) licensed under this chapter as a body shop;
87          (ii) a detail or repair shop;
88          (iii) a tow truck motor carrier subject to Title 72, Chapter 9, Motor Carrier Safety Act;
89          (iv) a repossession company;

90          (v) licensed under this chapter as a dealer; or
91          (vi) a finance company.
92          (c) The division may not issue or renew a transporter license unless the applicant
93     provides proof of insurance or other form of security meeting the minimum requirements of
94     Title 41, Chapter 12a, Financial Responsibility of Motor Vehicle Owners and Operators Act.
95          (10) A dismantler's license permits the licensee to dismantle motor vehicles subject to
96     registration under Title 41, Chapter 1a, Motor Vehicle Act, for the purpose of reselling parts or
97     for salvage, or selling dismantled or salvage vehicles to a crusher or other dismantler.
98          (11) A distributor or factory branch and distributor branch's license permits the licensee
99     to sell and distribute new motor vehicles, parts, and accessories to their franchised dealers.
100          (12) A representative's license, for factory representatives or distributor representatives
101     permits the licensee to contact the licensee's authorized dealers for the purpose of making or
102     promoting the sale of motor vehicles, parts, and accessories.
103          (13) (a) (i) A remanufacturer's license permits the licensee to construct, reconstruct,
104     assemble, or reassemble motor vehicles subject to registration under Title 41, Chapter 1a,
105     Motor Vehicle Act, from used or new motor vehicles or parts.
106          (ii) Evidence of ownership of parts and motor vehicles used in remanufacture shall be
107     available to the division upon demand.
108          (b) Under rules the administrator makes, the licensee may issue and install vehicle
109     identification numbers on remanufactured motor vehicles.
110          (14) A crusher's license permits the licensee to engage in the business of crushing or
111     shredding motor vehicles subject to registration under Title 41, Chapter 1a, Motor Vehicle Act,
112     for the purpose of reducing the useable materials and metals to a more compact size for
113     recycling.
114          (15) A body shop's license permits the licensee:
115          (a) to rebuild, restore, repair, or paint the body of motor vehicles; and
116          (b) to dismantle motor vehicles.
117          (16) A special equipment dealer's license permits the licensee to:
118          (a) buy incomplete new motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 12,000 or more
119     pounds from a new motor vehicle dealer and sell the new vehicle with the special equipment
120     installed without a franchise from the manufacturer;

121          (b) offer for sale, sell, or exchange used motor vehicles;
122          (c) operate as a body shop; and
123          (d) dismantle motor vehicles.
124          (17) (a) A salvage vehicle buyer license permits the licensee to bid on or purchase a
125     vehicle with a salvage certificate as defined in Section 41-1a-1001 at any motor vehicle
126     auction.
127          (b) The division may only issue a salvage vehicle buyer license to a motor vehicle
128     dealer, dismantler, or body shop who qualifies under rules made by the division and is licensed
129     in any state as a motor vehicle dealer, dismantler, or body shop.
130          (c) The division may not issue more than two salvage vehicle buyer licenses to any one
131     dealer, dismantler, or body shop.
132          (d) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
133     administrator shall make rules establishing qualifications of an applicant for a salvage vehicle
134     buyer license. The criteria shall include:
135          (i) business history;
136          (ii) salvage vehicle qualifications;
137          (iii) ability to properly handle and dispose of environmental hazardous materials
138     associated with salvage vehicles; and
139          (iv) record in demonstrating compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
140          Section 2. Section 41-3-702 is amended to read:
141          41-3-702. Civil penalty for violation.
142          (1) The following are civil violations under this chapter and are in addition to criminal
143     violations under this chapter:
144          (a) Level I:
145          (i) failing to display business license;
146          (ii) failing to surrender license of salesperson because of termination, suspension, or
147     revocation;
148          (iii) failing to maintain a separation from nonrelated motor vehicle businesses at
149     licensed locations;
150          (iv) issuing a temporary permit improperly;
151          (v) failing to maintain records;

152          (vi) selling a new motor vehicle to a nonfranchised dealer or leasing company without
153     licensing the motor vehicle;
154          (vii) special plate violation;
155          (viii) failing to maintain a sign at a principal place of business; or
156          (ix) failing to store a salvage vehicle purchased at a motor vehicle auction in a secure
157     location until the purchaser or a transporter has provided the proper documentation to take
158     possession of the salvage vehicle.
159          (b) Level II:
160          (i) failing to report sale;
161          (ii) dismantling without a permit;
162          (iii) manufacturing without meeting construction or vehicle identification number
163     standards;
164          (iv) withholding customer license plates;
165          (v) selling a motor vehicle on consecutive days of Saturday and Sunday; or
166          (vi) failing to record and report the sale of a salvage vehicle at a motor vehicle auction
167     as described in Section 41-3-201.
168          (c) Level III:
169          (i) operating without a principal place of business;
170          (ii) selling a new motor vehicle as a dealer who is not a direct-sale manufacturer
171     without holding the franchise;
172          (iii) crushing a motor vehicle without proper evidence of ownership;
173          (iv) selling from an unlicensed location;
174          (v) altering a temporary permit;
175          (vi) refusal to furnish copies of records;
176          (vii) assisting an unlicensed dealer or salesperson in sales of motor vehicles;
177          (viii) advertising violation;
178          (ix) failing to separately identify the fees required by Title 41, Chapter 1a, Motor
179     Vehicle Act;
180          (x) encouraging or conspiring with unlicensed persons to solicit for prospective
181     purchasers; or
182          (xi) selling, offering for sale, or displaying for sale or exchange a vehicle, vessel, or

183     outboard motor in violation of Section 41-1a-705.
184          (2) (a) The schedule of civil penalties for violations of Subsection (1) is:
185          (i) Level I: $25 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $250 for the third
186     and subsequent offenses;
187          (ii) Level II: $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second offense, and $1,000 for the
188     third and subsequent offenses; and
189          (iii) Level III: $250 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $5,000 for
190     the third and subsequent offenses.
191          (b) When determining under this section if an offense is a second or subsequent
192     offense, only prior offenses committed within the 12 months before the commission of the
193     current offense may be considered.
194          (3) Knowingly selling a salvage vehicle, as defined in Section 41-1a-1001, without
195     disclosing that the salvage vehicle has been repaired or rebuilt is a civil violation in addition to
196     a criminal violation under Section 41-1a-1008.
197          (4) The civil penalty for a violation under Subsection (3) is:
198          (a) not less than $1,000, or treble the actual damages caused by the person, whichever
199     is greater; and
200          (b) reasonable attorney fees and costs of the action.
201          (5) When a civil violation under this section is committed by a dealer that operates as
202     part of a group of dealers under common management, ownership, or control, the civil penalty
203     shall only be assessed against the dealer that committed the civil violation and may not be
204     assessed against the group of dealers as a whole.
205          [(5)] (6) A civil action may be maintained by a purchaser or by the administrator.