Bill Text: NY S02913 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relates to the definition and registration of mobility dealers.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-01-04 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION [S02913 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-S02913-Amended.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
           S. 2913--B                                            A. 4298--B
           Cal. No. 132
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                             S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
                                   February 3, 2011
                                      ___________
       IN  SENATE  --  Introduced  by  Sens. MAZIARZ, PERKINS -- read twice and
         ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
         Transportation  --  reported favorably from said committee, ordered to
         first and second report, ordered  to  a  third  reading,  amended  and
         ordered  reprinted,  retaining its place in the order of third reading
         -- again amended and ordered reprinted, retaining  its  place  in  the
         order of third reading
       IN  ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. PERRY, REILICH, ROBINSON, WEISEN-
         BERG -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of  A.    ABINANTI,  GIBSON,  HIKIND,
         McDONOUGH,  ORTIZ,  P. RIVERA,  TITUS -- read once and referred to the
         Committee on Transportation --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
         ordered  reprinted  as  amended  and  recommitted to said committee --
         again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered  reprinted
         as amended and recommitted to said committee
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the vehicle and traffic law and the general business
         law, in relation to mobility dealers
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  Paragraphs  a, f and i of subdivision 1 of section 415 of
    2  the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter  7  of  the  laws  of
    3  2000, are amended and three new paragraphs k, l  and m are added to read
    4  as follows:
    5    a.  "Dealer" means a person engaged in the business of buying, selling
    6  or dealing in motor vehicles, motorcycles or trailers, other than mobile
    7  homes or manufactured homes, at retail or  wholesale;  except,  however,
    8  trailers  with  an  unladen weight of less than one thousand pounds. For
    9  the purposes of this section, a "mobile  home"  or  "manufactured  home"
   10  means  a  mobile  home  or  manufactured  home as defined in section one
   11  hundred twenty-two-c of this chapter. Any person who  sells,  or  offers
   12  for  sale  more than five motor vehicles, motorcycles or trailers in any
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD04356-04-1
       S. 2913--B                          2                         A. 4298--B
    1  calendar year or who displays or permits the display of  three  or  more
    2  motor  vehicles,  motorcycles  or  trailers  for sale at any one time or
    3  within any one calendar month upon premises owned or controlled  by  him
    4  OR  HER, if such vehicles were purchased, acquired or otherwise obtained
    5  by such person for the purpose of resale, will be regarded as a  dealer.
    6  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in subdivisions three, five, six-b, and
    7  seven of this section, the term "dealer"  shall  include  a  "new  motor
    8  vehicle  dealer"  as  defined  by  paragraph f of this subdivision and a
    9  "qualified dealer" as defined in paragraph g of this subdivision.
   10    f. "New motor vehicle dealer" means a dealer who engages in the activ-
   11  ities described in paragraph a of this subdivision  if  such  activities
   12  relate to new motor vehicles and if such dealer is party to a franchise,
   13  as  the terms "new motor vehicle" and "franchise" are defined in section
   14  four hundred sixty-two of this title; provided, however, for purposes of
   15  this definition, a new motor vehicle  shall  include  only  those  motor
   16  vehicles  commonly  classified  as a passenger automobile, sport utility
   17  vehicle, light truck, pickup truck, van, minivan, or  suburban,  with  a
   18  gross  vehicle  weight  rating of ten thousand pounds or less, and shall
   19  not include (i) any such vehicle which has been converted for use  as  a
   20  tow  truck[,]  or  (ii)  a motor vehicle for which the current ownership
   21  document is a statement of acquisition issued pursuant to  section  four
   22  hundred  twenty-nine  of  this  title,  a  salvage  certificate, salvage
   23  certificate of title, nonrepairable  certificate,  or  similar  document
   24  issued by any state or jurisdiction; or (iii) any motor vehicle commonly
   25  classified  as  a  bus,  school  bus, garbage truck, marine trailer, tow
   26  truck, motorcycle, recreational  vehicle,  snowmobile,  trailer,  mobile
   27  home  or construction equipment; and provided further that a dealer is a
   28  new motor vehicle dealer only with respect to those vehicles  which  are
   29  of  the  same  make  as those which that dealer is authorized to sell at
   30  that location pursuant to a valid franchise agreement.
   31    i. "Used motor vehicle" means any vehicle not included  in  the  defi-
   32  nition of a new motor vehicle. Provided, however, that such term as used
   33  in  paragraph g of this subdivision shall include only those motor vehi-
   34  cles commonly classified as a passenger automobile, sport utility  vehi-
   35  cle,  light truck, pick up truck, van, minivan or suburban, with a gross
   36  vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds or less, which (i)  is  not
   37  deemed  to  be  a  "new  motor  vehicle" pursuant to paragraph h of this
   38  subdivision, or (ii) has not been converted for use as a tow truck[,] or
   39  (iii) is not commonly classified as a bus, school  bus,  garbage  truck,
   40  marine trailer, tow truck, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, snowmobile,
   41  trailer, mobile home, or construction equipment.
   42    K.  (I)  "MOBILITY  DEALER"  MEANS  A  PERSON WHO DISPLAYS FOR SALE OR
   43  ADVERTISES FOR SALE MORE THAN FIVE MOBILITY  VEHICLES  IN  ANY  CALENDAR
   44  YEAR  OR  WHO  DISPLAYS OR PERMITS THE DISPLAY OF THREE OR MORE MOBILITY
   45  VEHICLES AT ANY ONE TIME OR WITHIN ANY ONE CALENDAR MONTH UPON  PREMISES
   46  OWNED  OR  CONTROLLED BY HIM OR HER, REGARDLESS OF THE OWNERSHIP OF SUCH
   47  MOBILITY VEHICLES.
   48    (II) MOBILITY DEALER DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
   49    (A) RECEIVERS, TRUSTEES, ADMINISTRATORS, EXECUTORS, GUARDIANS OR OTHER
   50  PERSONS APPOINTED BY OR ACTING UNDER THE JUDGMENT OR ORDER OF ANY COURT;
   51    (B) PUBLIC OFFICERS WHILE PERFORMING THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES;
   52    (C) PERSONS DISPOSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES ACQUIRED FOR THEIR OWN USE  OR
   53  FOR  THE USE OF A FAMILY MEMBER, AND ACTUALLY SO USED, WHEN THE VEHICLES
   54  HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED AND USED IN GOOD FAITH AND NOT FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF
   55  AVOIDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION;
   56    (D) FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHO SELL REPOSSESSED MOBILITY VEHICLES;
       S. 2913--B                          3                         A. 4298--B
    1    (E)  INSURANCE  COMPANIES  WHO  RESELL  MOBILITY  VEHICLES  THAT  THEY
    2  ACQUIRED IN THE COURSE OF BUSINESS.
    3    L.  "MOBILITY EQUIPMENT" MEANS MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES, PARTS
    4  OR ACCESSORIES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE USE  OF  A  MOTOR
    5  VEHICLE  BY  AN  AGING OR DISABLED PERSON AS INTERPRETED BY THE NATIONAL
    6  HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND WHICH ARE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED
    7  TO OR INCORPORATED IN THE VEHICLE.
    8    M. "MOBILITY VEHICLE" MEANS A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED
    9  AND EQUIPPED TO TRANSPORT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY (AS INTERPRETED  BY
   10  THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION) AND THAT:
   11    (I)  IS  DESIGNED  AND  BUILT OR MODIFIED TO ALLOW VEHICLE INGRESS AND
   12  EGRESS FOR A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR OR SCOOTER; AND
   13    (II) CONTAINS AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
   14    (A) AN ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL WHEELCHAIR, SCOOTER, OR PLATFORM  LIFT
   15  THAT  ENABLES  A  PERSON  TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE OCCUPYING A
   16  WHEELCHAIR OR SCOOTER;
   17    (B) AN ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL WHEELCHAIR RAMP; OR
   18    (C) A SYSTEM TO SECURE A WHEELCHAIR OR SCOOTER TO ALLOW FOR  A  PERSON
   19  TO BE SAFELY TRANSPORTED WHILE OCCUPYING THE WHEELCHAIR OR SCOOTER, THAT
   20  IS  INSTALLED  AS  AN INTEGRAL PART OR PERMANENT ATTACHMENT TO THE MOTOR
   21  VEHICLE'S CHASSIS.
   22    S 2. The opening paragraph and paragraph c of subdivision 3 of section
   23  415 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 7 of the  laws
   24  of  2000,  are  amended  and  a  new  paragraph  b-1 is added to read as
   25  follows:
   26    Registration of new motor vehicle dealers, MOBILITY DEALERS, qualified
   27  dealers, and other motor vehicle dealers.
   28    B-1. NO PERSON SHALL ENGAGE IN  BUSINESS  AS  A  MOBILITY  DEALER,  OR
   29  REPRESENT,  ADVERTISE,  OR  OTHERWISE  HOLD  HIMSELF  OR  HERSELF OUT AS
   30  ENGAGED OR INTENDING TO ENGAGE IN THE BUSINESS OF DISPLAYING,  ADVERTIS-
   31  ING  OR  INVENTORYING  NEW MOBILITY VEHICLES IN THIS STATE, UNLESS THERE
   32  SHALL HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO HIM OR HER A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AS  A
   33  MOBILITY DEALER AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION AND SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF
   34  THIS  SECTION.  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT A REGISTERED NEW MOTOR VEHICLE
   35  DEALER OR QUALIFIED DEALER MAY ENGAGE IN BUSINESS AS A MOBILITY  DEALER,
   36  OR  REPRESENT,  ADVERTISE,  OR  OTHERWISE HOLD HIMSELF OR HERSELF OUT AS
   37  ENGAGED OR INTENDING TO ENGAGE IN THE BUSINESS OF  SELLING,  DISPLAYING,
   38  OFFERING,  ADVERTISING  OR INVENTORYING MOBILITY VEHICLES IN THIS STATE,
   39  WITHOUT HAVING BEEN ISSUED TO HIM OR HER A CERTIFICATE  OF  REGISTRATION
   40  AS A MOBILITY DEALER.
   41    c.  The  issuance  of  such certificate of registration to a new motor
   42  vehicle dealer, a qualified dealer, MOBILITY DEALER or other motor vehi-
   43  cle dealer shall be deemed to include the right to operate  motor  vehi-
   44  cles,  motorcycles  and  trailers to the extent permitted by subdivision
   45  eight of this section, instead  of  obtaining  vehicle  registration  as
   46  provided  by  sections  four  hundred  one  and four hundred ten of this
   47  title. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons engaged
   48  in the business of buying, selling or dealing in snowmobiles and/or snow
   49  travellers.
   50    S 3. The opening paragraph and  paragraph  a  of  subdivision  6-b  of
   51  section  415  of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 7 of
   52  the laws of 2000, are amended to read as follows:
   53    Dealer, qualified dealer, MOBILITY DEALER, and new motor vehicle deal-
   54  er surety bond.  a. As a condition to obtaining a  registration  certif-
   55  icate pursuant to this section, every new motor vehicle dealer applicant
   56  [and],  every qualified dealer applicant AND EVERY MOBILITY DEALER shall
       S. 2913--B                          4                         A. 4298--B
    1  obtain and continue in effect a surety bond in an amount of fifty  thou-
    2  sand  dollars  executed by a surety company authorized to transact busi-
    3  ness in the state by the insurance department of the state. As a  condi-
    4  tion  to  obtaining a registration certificate pursuant to this section,
    5  EVERY MOBILITY DEALER APPLICANT AND every dealer applicant who is apply-
    6  ing for a registration certificate in the first instance or who sold two
    7  hundred motor vehicles or fewer in  the  previous  calendar  year  shall
    8  obtain and continue in effect a surety bond in an amount of ten thousand
    9  dollars  executed by a surety company authorized to transact business in
   10  the state by the insurance department of the state. As  a  condition  of
   11  obtaining  a  registration  certificate  pursuant to this section, every
   12  dealer applicant who sold more than two hundred motor  vehicles  in  the
   13  previous calendar year shall obtain and continue in effect a surety bond
   14  in an amount of twenty-five thousand dollars executed by a surety compa-
   15  ny authorized to transact business in the state by the insurance depart-
   16  ment of the state. The bonds shall be approved as to form by the commis-
   17  sioner  and  shall  be  conditioned  on  the new motor vehicle dealer's,
   18  qualified dealer's, and dealer's: payment  of  all  valid  bank  drafts,
   19  including  checks,  drawn by such dealer for the purchase of motor vehi-
   20  cles; transfer of good title to each motor vehicle  such  dealer  sells;
   21  safekeeping  of  all  customer  deposits  related to the sale of a motor
   22  vehicle between the time of receipt of such  customer  deposit  and  the
   23  transfer  of  good title to the vehicle to the customer; payment for all
   24  fines imposed upon the new motor vehicle dealer,  qualified  dealer,  or
   25  dealer  by  the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;
   26  and such dealer's repayment of any overcharges of  a  customer  by  such
   27  dealer  for  the vehicle registration and titling charges payable to the
   28  commissioner for registering and titling the sold vehicle.
   29    S 4. Paragraph c of subdivision 7 of section 415 of  the  vehicle  and
   30  traffic law, as amended by chapter 7 of the laws of 2000, is amended and
   31  a new paragraph b-1 is added to read as follows:
   32    B-1.  REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES FOR MOBILITY DEALERS. (I) APPLICATION.
   33  IF A PERSON MAKES APPLICATION, UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, FOR A REGISTRA-
   34  TION CERTIFICATE AS A MOBILITY DEALER, THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ISSUE  A
   35  REGISTRATION  AS  A  MOBILITY  DEALER TO SUCH DEALER UPON PAYMENT OF THE
   36  PRESCRIBED FEE AND ANY REQUIREMENTS THE COMMISSIONER  MAY  PRESCRIBE  BY
   37  REGULATION.
   38    (II)  RIGHTS  OF  MOBILITY  DEALERS.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW OR
   39  RULE, A PERSON HOLDING A MOBILITY  DEALER  CERTIFICATE  SHALL  HAVE  THE
   40  RIGHT TO:
   41    (A)  DISPLAY, INVENTORY, ADVERTISE, SOLICIT, DEMONSTRATE, OR OFFER FOR
   42  SALE ANY NEW MOBILITY VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF THE CHASSIS MAKE OF THE NEW
   43  MOBILITY VEHICLE, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OWNERSHIP OF SUCH NEW MOBIL-
   44  ITY VEHICLE IS HELD BY A NEW MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THIS
   45  STATE;
   46    (B)  ARRANGE,  NEGOTIATE,  AND/OR  ASSIST  CONSUMERS  AS  REGARDS  THE
   47  PURCHASE OF ANY MOBILITY VEHICLE;
   48    (C)  SELL  AND  INSTALL  MOBILITY  EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES AND OTHER
   49  GOODS AND SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS PARTICULAR TO DISABLED DRIVERS  AND
   50  PASSENGERS;
   51    (D) PROVIDE MOBILITY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES.
   52    (III)  PROHIBITIONS.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY OTHER LAW OR RULE, A PERSON
   53  HOLDING A MOBILITY DEALER  CERTIFICATE  SHALL  NOT  HAVE  THE  RIGHT  TO
   54  PERFORM  REPAIRS  ON  MOBILITY VEHICLES OR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES, WITHOUT
   55  OBTAINING A LICENSE AS A REPAIR SHOP PURSUANT TO ARTICLE  12-A  OF  THIS
   56  CHAPTER, HOWEVER, A MOBILITY DEALER MAY, WITHOUT OBTAINING SUCH LICENSE,
       S. 2913--B                          5                         A. 4298--B
    1  PERFORM  REPAIRS ON PARTS WHICH ARE UNIQUE TO MOBILITY VEHICLES AND WERE
    2  NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURED MOTOR VEHICLE.
    3    (IV)  REGULATIONS BY THE COMMISSIONER. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE THE
    4  POWER TO PROMULGATE SUCH  REGULATIONS  AS  ARE  NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT
    5  MOBILITY  DEALER  REGISTRATION  AND ESTABLISH REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE
    6  QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCH DEALERS.
    7    c. Registration certificate for other than new motor  vehicle  dealer,
    8  MOBILITY  DEALER  or  qualified dealer. If the commissioner approves the
    9  application of an applicant for a registration certificate other than  a
   10  new  motor vehicle dealer certificate or a qualified dealer certificate,
   11  upon payment of the prescribed fee, he or she shall issue a registration
   12  certificate in such form as he or she may prescribe.
   13    S 5. Section 198-a of the general business law is amended by adding  a
   14  new subdivision (p) to read as follows:
   15    (P)  THIS  SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO MOBILITY EQUIPMENT AS DEFINED IN
   16  SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAF-
   17  FIC LAW.
   18    S 6. Section 198-b of the general business law is amended by adding  a
   19  new subdivision h to read as follows:
   20    H.  THIS  SECTION  SHALL NOT APPLY TO MOBILITY EQUIPMENT AS DEFINED IN
   21  SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAF-
   22  FIC LAW.
   23    S 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
   24  it shall become a law.
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