Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §903, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2003, c. 496, §1, is further amended to read:

3. Plate reduction. Upon renewal of a dealer license, the number of plates allowed a motor vehicle dealer who fails to sell, through retail sales, a minimum of one vehicle per month or 12 vehicles within a 12-month period must be reduced to one dealer plate, and the motor vehicle dealer may not be issued a dealer plate under section 1002, subsection 1, paragraph B. Upon a 2nd application for renewal of a dealer license, a motor vehicle dealer must be denied renewal if the Secretary of State determines that the dealer sold fewer than 4 vehicles, through retail sales, in the previous license year, at which time all dealer credentials issued previously must be returned to the Secretary of State.

A motor vehicle dealer who is denied a license renewal under this subsection may not reapply until the license has been expired at least one year.

A motor vehicle dealer who holds a vehicle auction business license under section 1051 is exempt from this subsection.

SUMMARY

Public Law 2003, chapter 496 amended the laws governing the use of automobile dealer plates by linking the number of allowable dealer plates to the number of vehicles sold through retail sale. In recognition of the significant number of vehicles sold through wholesale sale, this bill would alter the criteria to include those sales.