RS 1270.10 - Establishment of new motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealerships or relocations; protests; procedure
A. Whenever the commission receives an application for a recreational products dealer's license which would add a new motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership, it shall first notify the existing licensed motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership or dealerships selling the same-line makes, models, or classifications within a thirty-mile radius of the proposed dealership, and such dealer or dealers may object to the granting of the license.
B. Whenever the commission receives an application for a recreation products dealer's license which would relocate an existing motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership, it shall first notify any existing licensed motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership selling the same-line makes, models, or classifications within a thirty-mile radius of the proposed relocation address of a dealership. Any existing same-line makes, models, or classifications dealership shall have the right to object to the granting of the license only if the proposed relocation is within a radius of seven miles of its facility. However, without regard to distance, whenever the commission receives an application for the relocation of a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership which would add an additional franchise to an existing same-line makes, models, or classifications dealership's area of responsibility, the affected motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership shall have the right to object.
C. The objection shall be in writing and shall be received by the commission within a fifteen-day period after receipt of the notice. The fifteen-day objection period shall be waived upon written notification to the commission from all licensees entitled to object that the licensees have no objections to the proposed change or addition for which the notice of intent was issued. If timely objection is lodged, and prior to the issuance of the license, the commission shall hold a hearing within thirty days after receipt of the objection and issue its decision within ninety days after date of the hearing. Notice of hearing and an opportunity to participate therein shall be given to the manufacturer or distributor, the applicant for the license as a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealer, and to the protesting motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership or dealerships.
D. Whenever the commission receives an objection pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the commission shall consider the following and may consider any other relevant factors in determining whether there is good cause to issue a license:
(1) Whether the community or territory can support an additional motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership.
(2) The financial impact on both the applicant and the existing motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealership or dealerships.
(3) Whether the existing motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealerships of the same-line makes, models, or classifications in the dealership's area of responsibility are providing adequate representation, competition, and convenient consumer care for the motorcycle or all-terrain vehicles of the same-line makes, models, or classifications located within that area.
(4) Whether the issuance of the license would increase competition, or be in the public interest, or both.
Acts 2012, No. 326, §1; Acts 2013, No. 53, §1.