23-2-818. Dealer registration certificate. (1) (a) Unless the dealer is licensed under the provisions of 61-4-101, a dealer may not sell off-highway vehicles unless the dealer has first obtained a dealer registration certificate from the department of justice under the provisions of this section.
     (b) To qualify as a dealer the applicant, when registering or renewing a registration, shall:
     (i) complete an application:
     (A) stating the name under which the business is to be conducted and the location of the premises (street address, city, county, and state) where records are kept, sales are made, and stock is displayed;
     (B) stating the name, address, date of birth, and social security number of all owners or persons having an interest in the business, provided that in the case of a corporation, the names and addresses of the president and secretary are sufficient;
     (C) identifying other dealerships owned by the applicant, identifying all persons in Montana or in another state having an interest in another dealership owned by the applicant, and disclosing whether the applicant or any other person with interest in a dealership owned by the applicant has been convicted of a felony; and
     (D) stating the name and make of all off-highway vehicles handled and the name and address of the manufacturer, importer, or distributor with whom the applicant has a written franchise or sales agreement;
     (ii) provide an affidavit certifying that the applicant has acquired and shall maintain liability insurance for any off-highway vehicle offered for demonstration or loan to a customer;
     (iii) execute a certificate to the effect that the applicant has a permanent building for the display and sale of off-highway vehicles at the location of the premises where sales are conducted;
     (iv) execute a certificate to the effect that the applicant has a bona fide service department for the repair, service, and maintenance of off-highway vehicles; and
     (v) execute a certificate to the effect that the applicant is a bona fide dealer in off-highway vehicles and that the dealer is recognized by a manufacturer, importer, or distributor as a dealer in off-highway vehicles.
     (2) The dealer application for registration or renewal of registration must be accompanied by an application or renewal fee of $5 and a registration fee of $5. To qualify for the fees in this subsection, the applicant for renewal shall certify that the applicant has sold three or more off-highway vehicles during the preceding year. Upon receipt of the dealer application or renewal and payment of fees, the dealer must be issued two dealer off-highway identification cards to be carried by the dealer or the dealer's customer when demonstrating the dealer's off-highway vehicles. Additional dealer off-highway vehicle identification cards may be purchased by the dealer from the department of justice for a fee of $2 each.
     (3) (a) A dealer shall file a bond in the amount of $5,000.
     (b) The bond must be conditioned that the applicant shall conduct business in accordance with the requirements of the law. The bond must run to the state of Montana, must be approved by the department and filed in its office, and must be renewed annually.
     (c) A person who suffers loss or damage because of the unlawful conduct of a dealer registered under this section shall obtain a judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction prior to collecting on the bond. Before payment on the bond is required, the judgment must determine a specific loss or damage amount and conclude that the dealer's unlawful operation caused the loss or damage.
     (4) The dealer shall have a principal place of business where the dealer maintains all business records and where the dealer displays and sells merchandise.
     (5) An applicant for renewal of an off-highway vehicle dealer registration who does not qualify under subsection (2) shall:
     (a) pay an additional $50 renewal registration fee; and
     (b) provide a copy of a new off-highway vehicle franchise or sales agreement that the applicant has with a manufacturer, importer, or distributor.
     (6) Dealer registration certificates and identification cards expire on December 31 following the date of issuance.
     (7) (a) The dealer application fees and all interest accruing from use of this money must be deposited in the general fund to be used by the department of justice for the administration of this part.
     (b) All dealer registration fees and renewal fees collected must be deposited in the state general fund.

     History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 599, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 398, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 384, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 142, Ch. 574, L. 2001.