218.0116(1)(i)1.a.
a. "Due regard to the equities" means treatment in enforcing an agreement that is fair and equitable to a motor vehicle dealer or distributor and that is not discriminatory compared to similarly situated dealers or distributors.
218.0116(1)(i)1.b.
b. "Just provocation" means a material breach by a motor vehicle dealer or distributor, due to matters within the dealer's or distributor's control, of a reasonable and necessary provision of an agreement and the breach is not cured within a reasonable time after written notice of the breach has been received from the manufacturer, importer or distributor.
218.0116(1)(i)2.
2. Subject to
s. 218.0132, being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who has unfairly, without due regard to the equities or without just provocation, directly or indirectly canceled or failed to renew the franchise of any motor vehicle dealer; or being a manufacturer or importer, who has unfairly, without due regard to the equities or without just provocation, directly or indirectly canceled or failed to renew the franchise of any distributor. If there is a change in a manufacturer, importer or distributor, a motor vehicle dealer's franchise granted by the former manufacturer, importer or distributor shall continue in full force and operation under the new manufacturer, importer or distributor unless a mutual agreement of cancellation is filed with the department of transportation between the new manufacturer, importer or distributor and the dealer.
218.0116(1)(im)1.a.
a. With respect to an order or contract of purchase, the practice of increasing the selling price of a motor vehicle above that originally quoted the purchaser as evidenced by a purchase order or contract which has been signed by both the purchaser and dealer licensee.
218.0116(1)(im)1.b.
b. With respect to a consumer lease or prelease agreement, the practice of increasing the gross capitalized cost above that originally quoted the lessee or prospective lessee as evidenced by a consumer lease or prelease agreement which has been signed by both the lessee or prospective lessee and the dealer licensee.
218.0116(1)(im)2.
2. Having accepted an order or contract of purchase from a buyer or a consumer lease or prelease agreement from a lessee or prospective lessee if the arrangement results in the practice of bushing.
218.0116(1)(j)
(j) Having advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast or televised or caused or permitted to be advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast or televised in any manner whatsoever, any statement or representation with regard to the sale, lease or financing of motor vehicles which is false, deceptive or misleading.
218.0116(1)(jm)
(jm) Having set up, promoted or aided in the promotion of a plan by which motor vehicles are sold or leased to a person for a consideration and upon the further consideration that the purchaser or lessee agrees to secure one or more persons to participate in the plan by respectively making a similar purchase or lease and in turn agreeing to secure one or more persons likewise to join in the plan, each purchaser or lessee being given the right to secure money, credits, goods or something of value, depending upon the number of persons joining in the plan.
218.0116(1)(k)
(k) Being a dealer who keeps open the dealer's place of business on Sunday for the purpose of buying, leasing or selling motor vehicles; but nothing in this paragraph shall apply to any person who conscientiously believes that the 7th day of the week, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, should be observed as the Sabbath and who actually refrains from conducting or engaging in the business of buying, leasing, selling or offering for lease or sale motor vehicles, or performing other secular business on that day.
218.0116(1)(L)
(L) Being a motor vehicle dealer who, in breach of an agreement, voluntarily changes its ownership or executive management, transfers its dealership assets to another person, adds another franchise at the same location as its existing franchise, or relocates a franchise without first complying with the procedures in
s. 218.0134.
218.0116(1)(Lm)
(Lm) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who fails to comply with the procedures in
s. 218.0134 regarding a dealer's request for approval of a change of ownership or executive management, transfer of its dealership assets to another person, adding another franchise at the same location as its existing franchise, or relocation of a franchise or who fails to comply with an order of the division of hearings and appeals issued under
s. 218.0134.
218.0116(1)(mm)
(mm) Being a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, field representative, officer, agent or any representative of a manufacturer, factory branch or distributor who, notwithstanding the terms of any agreement, refuses to honor the succession to the ownership or operation of a dealership under an existing franchise agreement by a designated family member of a deceased or incapacitated dealer, except in the manner prescribed by
s. 218.0131, or who unreasonably withholds its approval of a change of ownership or executive management of the dealership after the dealer's death or incapacity.
218.0116(1)(n)
(n) The selling of new motor vehicles for which the dealer is not franchised.
218.0116(1)(nm)
(nm) Wilful failure to provide and maintain facilities and business records as required by
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163 or by any rule promulgated by the licensor pertaining to facility and business records.
218.0116(1)(o)
(o) Being an inactive business, as evidenced by 3 or less motor vehicle purchases and sales or consumer leases during the prior year licensing period.
218.0116(1)(om)
(om) Failure to obtain proper business zoning or failure to obtain and maintain any required additional state or local license or permit.
218.0116(1)(pm)
(pm) Being a manufacturer, factory branch or distributor who enters into a franchise agreement establishing or relocating a motor vehicle dealership, parts outlet or service outlet in a relevant market area without first complying with the procedure in
sub. (7) (a).
218.0116(1)(q)
(q) Being a manufacturer, factory branch or distributor who engages in any action which transfers to a motor vehicle dealer any responsibility of the manufacturer, factory branch or distributor under
s. 218.0171.
218.0116(1)(qm)
(qm) Being a manufacturer, distributor or importer who does any of the following:
218.0116(1)(qm)2.
2. Fails to revise or remove portions of an agreement that the department of transportation declares to contain provisions which are inconsistent with
s. 218.0114 (9).
218.0116(1)(qm)3.
3. Requires or coerces a dealer or distributor to sign an agreement, as a condition of obtaining or continuing a franchise, that contains provisions that are void or prohibited under
s. 218.0114 (9) or attempts to enforce an agreement with void or prohibited provisions.
218.0116(1)(qm)4.
4. Requires or coerces a dealer or distributor to sign an agreement that requires arbitration as a condition of obtaining or continuing a franchise, unless the dealer or distributor has the option of signing an otherwise identical agreement without the arbitration provision or unless the agreement provides for arbitration on a case-by-case basis and only when both parties elect to refer the matter to arbitration. This subdivision does not apply to a manufacturer or distributor who enters into an agreement that creates a new franchise for a new line make of motor vehicle, if each of the following is applicable:
218.0116(1)(qm)4.a.
a. The arbitration provision was the subject of good faith negotiations with a representative group of dealers.
218.0116(1)(qm)4.b.
b. Each dealer voluntarily accepts the arbitration provision after receiving a franchise offering circular under
s. 553.27 (4) that discloses the existence and effect of the arbitration provision.
218.0116(1)(qm)4.c.
c. The manufacturer or dealer files a copy of the franchise offering circular and proof of good faith negotiation and voluntary acceptance of the arbitration with any filing required under
s. 218.0114 (7) (a).
218.0116(1)(r)
(r) Being a manufacturer, distributor or importer who fails to designate in writing the area of sales responsibility assigned to a motor vehicle dealer or who changes or attempts to change an area of sales responsibility to avoid the requirements of
sub. (7).
218.0116(1)(rm)
(rm) Being a grantor, as defined ins. 218.0133 (1) (b), who fails to pay a motor vehicle dealer agreement termination benefits under
s. 218.0133.
218.0116(1)(s)
(s) Being a manufacturer or distributor who modifies a motor vehicle dealer agreement during the term of the agreement or upon its renewal without complying with
sub. (8).
218.0116(1)(t)
(t) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who compels a dealer, through a financing subsidiary of the manufacturer, importer or distributor, to agree to unreasonable operating requirements or who directly or indirectly cancels or fails to renew a dealer's franchise, except as allowed under
par. (i) and
s. 218.0132, through the actions of a financing subsidiary of the manufacturer, importer or distributor. This paragraph does not limit the right of a financing subsidiary to engage in business practices in accordance with the usages of the trade in which it is engaged.
218.0116(1)(tm)
(tm) Being a licensee who wilfully refuses or fails to participate in mediation pursuant to a demand for mediation served under
s. 218.0136 (1).
218.0116(1)(u)
(u) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who uses a right of first refusal, granted to it under an agreement, to influence the consideration or other terms offered by a potential buyer for a dealership's assets or stock or to influence a potential buyer to refrain from entering into, or to withdraw from, negotiations for the purchase of a dealership's assets or stock.
218.0116(1g)(a)(a) A license described in
s. 218.0114 (14) shall be denied, restricted, limited or suspended if the applicant or licensee is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 49.857.
218.0116(1g)(c)
(c) No provision of
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163 that entitles an applicant or licensee to a notice or hearing applies to a denial, restriction, limitation, suspension or revocation of a license under this subsection.
218.0116(1m)(a)2.
2. The department of revenue certifies under
s. 73.0301 that the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. An applicant whose license is denied under this subdivision for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under
s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under
s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
218.0116(1m)(a)3.
3. The applicant is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 49.857. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision is entitled to a notice and hearing under
s. 49.857 but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163.
218.0116(1m)(b)
(b) A license described in
s. 218.0114 (16) shall be restricted or suspended if the licensee is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 49.857. A licensee whose license is restricted or suspended under this paragraph is entitled to a notice and hearing under
s. 49.857 but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163.
218.0116(1m)(c)
(c) A license described in
s. 218.0114 (16) shall be revoked if the department of revenue certifies under
s. 73.0301 that the licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under
s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under
s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
218.0116(2)
(2) The licensor may without prior notice deny the application for a license within 60 days after receipt of the application by written notice to the applicant, stating the grounds for the denial. Within 30 days after receiving the notice, the applicant may petition the division of hearings and appeals to conduct a hearing to review the denial, and a hearing shall be scheduled with reasonable promptness.
218.0116(3)(a)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., the department of transportation shall not license an applicant as a dealer for the sale or lease of motor vehicles at retail unless the applicant owns or leases a vehicle display lot and a permanent building in which there are facilities to display motor vehicles and to repair functional and nonfunctional parts of motor vehicles, where replacement parts, repair tools and equipment to service motor vehicles are kept, and at which the books, records and files necessary to conduct the dealer's business shall be kept and maintained.
218.0116(3)(a)1m.
1m. A residence, tent or temporary stand is not a sufficiently permanent building within the meaning of
subd. 1.
218.0116(3)(a)2.
2. The requirements in
subd. 1. that an applicant own or lease a vehicle display lot and that the permanent building owned or leased by the applicant contain facilities to display motor vehicles do not apply to persons who are engaged only in the leasing of motor vehicles and who do not maintain an inventory of motor vehicles offered for lease.
218.0116(3)(b)
(b) An approved service contract with an established repair shop having the repair parts and repair facilities specified in
par. (a) 1. shall serve in lieu of the applicant's owning or leasing the applicant's own repair facilities if the service connection is within a reasonable distance from the applicant's place of business and if the service connection guarantees in writing the making of the repairs or replacements ordered by the dealer.
218.0116(3)(c)
(c) This subsection does not apply to persons who deal only in mopeds or motor bicycles.
218.0116(4)(a)(a) No license may be suspended or revoked except after a hearing on the possible suspension or revocation. Except as provided in
par. (b), the licensor shall give the licensee at least 5 days' notice of the time and place of the hearing. The order suspending or revoking the license shall not be effective until after 10 days' written notice of the order to the licensee, after the hearing under this paragraph has been held.
218.0116(4)(b)
(b) When in the licensor's opinion the best interest of the public or the trade demands it, for conduct or under circumstances specified in
ss. 218.0101 to
218.0163 or in rules promulgated by the licensor, the licensor may suspend a license upon not less than 24 hours' notice of hearing and with not less than 24 hours' notice of the suspension of the license.
218.0116(4)(c)
(c) Matters involving suspensions or revocations brought before the department of transportation shall be heard and decided upon by the division of hearings and appeals. If the department of transportation requests the division of hearings and appeals to hear a matter brought before the department of transportation under
par. (b), the division of hearings and appeals shall hear and decide the matter within 30 days after the date of the department of transportation's request.
218.0116(5)
(5) The licensor may inspect the pertinent books, records, letters and contracts of a licensee and shall determine the cost of an examination. The cost of an examination shall be paid by the licensee so examined within 30 days after demand for the examination by the licensor. The licensor may maintain an action for the recovery of the costs of the examination in any court of competent jurisdiction.
218.0116(6)
(6) If a licensee is a firm, corporation or limited liability company, it shall be sufficient cause for the denial, suspension or revocation of a license that any officer, director, trustee or manager of the firm, corporation or limited liability company, or any member in case of a partnership, has been guilty of any act or omission which would be cause for refusing, suspending or revoking a license to that party as an individual. Each licensee shall be responsible for the acts of any or all of his or her salespersons while acting as his or her agent, if the licensee approved of or had knowledge of the acts or other similar acts and after approving of or obtaining knowledge of the acts retained the benefit, proceeds, profits or advantages accruing from the acts or otherwise ratified the acts.
218.0116(7)(a)1.1. A manufacturer, importer or distributor who seeks to enter into a franchise agreement establishing or relocating a motor vehicle dealership, parts outlet or service outlet within the relevant market area of an existing enfranchised dealer of the line make of motor vehicle shall first notify, in writing, the department of transportation and that existing enfranchised dealer of its intention to establish or relocate a dealership or outlet. Within 30 days of receiving the notice or within 30 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the manufacturer, importer or distributor, whichever is later, any existing enfranchised dealer of the same line make to whom the manufacturer, importer or distributor is required to give notice under this paragraph may file with the department of transportation and the division of hearings and appeals a complaint protesting the proposed establishment or relocation of the dealership or outlet within the relevant market area of the existing enfranchised dealer.
218.0116(7)(a)2.
2. If a complaint is filed under
subd. 1., the department of transportation shall inform the manufacturer, importer or distributor that a timely complaint has been filed, that a hearing is required, and that the proposed franchise agreement may not be entered into until the division of hearings and appeals has held a hearing, nor thereafter, if the division of hearings and appeals determines that there is good cause for not permitting the proposed establishment or relocation of the dealership or outlet. In the event of multiple complaints, hearings shall be consolidated to expedite the disposition of the issue.
218.0116(7)(b)
(b) In determining whether good cause exists for not permitting the proposed establishment or relocation of a dealership or outlet, the division of hearings and appeals shall take into consideration the existing circumstances, including, but not limited to:
218.0116(7)(b)1.
1. The amount of business transacted by existing enfranchised dealers of the line make of motor vehicle when compared with the amount of business available to them.
218.0116(7)(b)2.
2. The permanency of the investment necessarily made and the obligations incurred by existing enfranchised dealers in the performance of their franchise agreements.
218.0116(7)(b)3.
3. The effect on the retail motor vehicle business in the relevant market area.
218.0116(7)(b)4.
4. Whether it is injurious to the public welfare for the proposed dealership or outlet to be established or relocated.
218.0116(7)(b)5.
5. Whether the establishment or relocation of the proposed dealership or outlet would increase competition and therefore be in the public interest.
218.0116(7)(b)6.
6. Whether the existing enfranchised dealers of the line make of motor vehicle are providing adequate consumer care for the motor vehicles of that line make, including the adequacy of motor vehicle service facilities, equipment, supply of parts and qualified personnel.
218.0116(7)(b)7.
7. Whether the existing enfranchised dealers of the line make of motor vehicle are receiving vehicles and parts in quantities promised by the manufacturer, factory branch or distributor and on which promised quantities existing enfranchised dealers based their investment and scope of operations.
218.0116(7)(b)8.
8. The effect the denial of the proposed establishment or relocation would have on the license applicant, dealer or outlet operator who is seeking to establish or relocate a dealership or outlet.
218.0116(7)(c)
(c) The decision of the division of hearings and appeals shall be in writing and shall contain findings of fact and a determination of whether there is good cause for not permitting the proposed establishment or relocation of the dealership or outlet. The division of hearings and appeals shall deliver copies of the decision to the parties personally or by registered mail. The decision is final upon its delivery or mailing and no reconsideration or rehearing by the division of hearings and appeals is permitted.
218.0116(7)(d)1d.
1d. "Closed" means the effective date of the termination or expiration of a dealership's or outlet's license or franchise, whichever is earlier.
218.0116(7)(d)1h.
1h. The reopening or replacement of a dealership or outlet that has been closed for less than 2 years, at the original location or within 2 miles of the original location by the closest highway route, is not the establishment of a motor vehicle dealership or outlet, unless the location is within 4 miles, by the closest highway route, of another franchised dealer of the same line make and is closer to that dealer than the closed dealership or outlet.
218.0116(7)(d)1m.
1m. The reopening or replacement of a dealership or outlet that has been closed for less than 2 years at a location other than the original location and other than a location within 2 miles of the original location by the closest highway route, but within the area of sales responsibility that had been assigned to the closed dealership or outlet by the manufacturer, importer or distributor is not the establishment of a motor vehicle dealership or outlet, unless the new location is within 6 miles, by the closest highway route, of another franchised dealer of the same line make and is closer to that dealer than the closed dealership or outlet.
218.0116(7)(d)1q.
1q. The reopening or replacement of a dealership or outlet that has been closed for 2 or more years or that is at a location outside of the area of sales responsibility that had been assigned to the closed dealership or outlet by the manufacturer, importer or distributor is the establishment of a dealership or outlet.
218.0116(7)(d)2.
2. The relocation of a dealership or outlet to a location within 2 miles of the existing location by the closest highway route and within the existing area of sales responsibility assigned to that dealership or outlet by the manufacturer, importer or distributor is not the relocation of a dealership or outlet, unless the location is within 4 miles, by the closest highway route, of another franchised dealer of the same line make and is closer to that dealer than the existing location. The relocation of a dealership or outlet to a location other than a location within 2 miles of the existing location, but within the existing area of sales responsibility assigned to that dealership or outlet by the manufacturer, importer or distributor is not the relocation of a dealership or outlet, unless the relocation site is within 6 miles, by the closest highway route, of the location of another enfranchised dealer of the same line make and is closer to that dealer than the existing location. The relocation of a dealership or outlet to a location outside the area of sales responsibility assigned to the dealership or outlet by the manufacturer is the relocation of a dealership or outlet.
218.0116(7)(d)3.
3. The establishment or relocation of a service or parts outlet requires that notice be given under
par. (a) to existing enfranchised dealers who are otherwise entitled to receive notice under
par. (a) and who are authorized to perform work to rectify product or warranty defects or delivery and preparation obligations on the same line make as the proposed service outlet or to use a trade name, trademark or service mark that is also proposed to be used by the proposed service or parts outlet, except that the establishment or relocation of a service or parts outlet that is owned and operated by a motor vehicle dealership enfranchised by the manufacturer, importer or distributor requires that notice be given only to existing dealers who are otherwise entitled to receive notice under
par. (a) and who hold a franchise to sell the same line make as the dealership that will own and operate the proposed service or parts outlet.
218.0116(7)(d)4.
4. A manufacturer's, importer's or distributor's authorization of a fleet owner to perform warranty or delivery and preparation work only on the fleet owner's own vehicles is not the establishment of a service outlet. In this subdivision:
218.0116(7)(d)4.a.
a. "Fleet owner" means a person who owns for its own use or for the use of others 10 or more motor vehicles of the current or preceding model year manufactured or sold by the manufacturer, importer or distributor who is authorizing the warranty work to be performed.
218.0116(7)(d)4.b.
b. "Fleet owner" does not include persons engaged in the business of leasing motor vehicles to individual consumers.
218.0116(7)(d)5.
5. The establishment or relocation of a motor vehicle dealership with respect to used motor vehicles under an agreement between the dealer and a manufacturer, importer or distributor is the establishment or relocation of a motor vehicle dealership.
