Every manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division shall fulfill any warranty agreement and compensate each of its motorcycle dealers for labor and parts. In determination of what constitutes reasonable compensation under this section, the principal factor to be given consideration is the prevailing wage rates paid by dealers in the community in which the dealer is doing business. The hourly labor rate paid to a dealer for warranty services must not be less than the rate charged by the dealer for like service to nonwarranty customers for nonwarranty service and repairs unless the rate is determined to be unreasonable. Dealers must be reimbursed for the current manufacturer suggested retail price for parts used on warranty work. All claims made by motorcycle dealers hereunder and under Section 56-16-20 for labor and parts must be paid within thirty days following their approval. All such claims are either approved or disapproved within thirty days after their receipt. When any claim is disapproved the motorcycle dealer who submits it must be notified in writing of its disapproval within such period, and each notice shall state the specific grounds upon which the disapproval is based. Any special handling of claims required by the manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, distributor branch or division, factory branch or division, or wholesale branch or division, which is not uniformly required of all dealers of the type make, may be enforced after thirty days' notice in writing and upon good and sufficient reason.
HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 511, Section 1.