Motor Vehicle Commission public meetings in 2022

Motor Vehicle Commission

The Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission will discuss proposed rules changes, hold an executive session on personnel and legal matters, and ratify a large number of manufacturer, distributor, converter, specialty vehicle dealer, new motor vehicle dealer, used motor vehicle facility, vehicle protection product warrantor, and motor vehicle lessor licenses. The agenda is primarily administrative, with no major policy decisions or public hearings listed.

• Discussion of proposed rules changes
• Ratification of manufacturer licenses for LVTong USA, Bintelli, and General Motors (including BOLT EV, HUMMER EV, Silverado EV)
• Ratification of new motor vehicle dealer licenses for multiple dealerships, including ownership changes at Navarre Honda, Land Rover Shreveport, and Mercedes-Benz of Shreveport
• Ratification of motor vehicle lessor licenses for U-Haul, Enterprise, Hertz, and others across Louisiana
• Ratification of used motor vehicle facility licenses for Red River Carplex, Jay Mallard Used Car Center, and others

The Commission approved a wide range of new and modified dealer, manufacturer, and lessor licenses. It also ratified several consent judgments imposing fines on vehicle dealers for regulatory violations and rejected a proposed advertising rule change from General Motors.

• Denied proposed advertising rule change submitted by General Motors
• Approved $4,400 total fine and costs for Pac-Van, Inc. (Hearing #2022-046)
• Approved $4,000 fine for Pac-Van, Inc. (Hearing #2022-047)
• Approved $5,400 total fine and costs for United Rentals (North America), Inc. (Hearing #2022-048)
• Approved $5,400 total fine for United Rentals (North America), Inc. (Hearing #2022-049)
• Approved $2,130 total fine and costs for M & M Automotive of Louisiana, L.L.C. (Hearing #2022-050)
• Approved $2,730 total fine and costs for Ferriday Auto Ventures, L.L.C. (Hearing #2022-063)
• Approved $440 total fine and costs for Winnsboro Auto Ventures, L.L.C. (Hearing #2022-064)

Motor Vehicle Commission

The Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission will hold two three-member-board hearings: a consolidated case involving Lakeshore Kia and Premier Kia of Kenner versus Kia America, Inc., and a separate case of Lamarque Crescent City Ford versus Ford Motor Company. The commission will hear arguments and evidence on dealer-franchise disputes.

• Hearing #2022-108 & #2022-135 (consolidated): Lakeshore Chrysler Dodge Jeep dba Lakeshore Kia and Premier Jefferson Asian Imports dba Premier Kia of Kenner vs. Kia America, Inc.
• Hearing #2022-105: Lamarque Crescent Ford, LLC dba Lamarque Crescent City Ford and Lamarque Ford, Inc. vs. Ford Motor Company

Motor Vehicle Commission

The Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission will hold an executive session to discuss legal planning and strategy regarding Civil Action No. 22-2982, a lawsuit involving Tesla, Inc., Tesla Lease Trust, and Tesla Finance, LLC against the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association. No other substantive items are on the agenda.

• Executive session for legal strategy in Tesla v. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association (Civil Action No. 22-2982)

The Commission held an executive session for legal planning and strategy regarding a civil action involving Tesla, Inc. and the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association. No other substantive decisions were recorded.

• Approved motion to enter executive session for legal planning regarding Civil Action No. 22-2982 (unanimous)
• Approved motion to end executive session at 12:51 p.m. (unanimous)
• Scheduled next regular meeting for November 16, 2022

Motor Vehicle Commission

The Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission will discuss a fiscal audit letter, used car advertisements, and 2022 legislation (SB152). The commission will also ratify numerous licenses for manufacturers, dealers, and lessors, including additions of Next-Generation Ford Electric Vehicle to several Ford dealers and ownership changes for multiple dealerships.

• Addition of Next-Generation Ford EV to Hollingsworth-Richards Ford in Baton Rouge
• Change in ownership of Holmes Honda in Shreveport to Raecom Holdings
• Relocation of Orr Cadillac in Shreveport to 7581 East Kings Highway
• Addition of HUMMER EV to Legacy Westbank in Harvey
• Change in corporate name and ownership of Giles Hyundai in Alexandria

The Commission approved the 2021-2022 Fiscal Audit Compliance Questionnaire and ratified numerous new and existing licenses for motor vehicle, recreational product, and lessor entities. Several consent judgments were ratified, imposing fines and probation on various dealerships for regulatory violations. General Motors proposed a rule change to allow advertising of used vehicles not physically in a dealer's possession, which will be drafted for future approval.

• Approved 2021-2022 Fiscal Audit Compliance Questionnaire (unanimous)
• Ratified Consent Judgment for American Cargo Group of TX, Inc.: $10,000 fine and $1,106.92 hearing cost (unanimous)
• Ratified Consent Judgment for Raymond's Boat Shop LLC: $5,000 fine and $400 pre-hearing cost (unanimous)
• Ratified Consent Judgment for Budget Rent A Car System, Inc.: $50,440 fine ($25,220 suspended on 1-year probation) and $400 pre-hearing cost (unanimous)
• Ratified Consent Judgment for Budget Truck Rental, LLC (Metairie): $16,800 fine ($8,400 suspended on 1-year probation) (unanimous)
• Ratified Consent Judgment for Avis Rent A Car System, LLC: $16,000 fine ($8,000 suspended on 1-year probation) (unanimous)
• Ratified Consent Judgment for JPS Motors, L.L.C.: $20,452 fine ($20,000 suspended on 1-year probation) and $400 pre-hearing cost (unanimous)
• Ratified Consent Judgment for Lowe's Home Centers, LLC: $10,196 fine ($5,000 suspended on 1-year probation) and $400 pre-hearing cost (unanimous)

Motor Vehicle Commission

The Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission will hold hearings on two complaints, discuss boat motors and pending legislation (HB591, SB152), and ratify numerous manufacturer, dealer, and other licenses. The agenda is largely procedural, with most items being routine license ratifications and updates.

• Hearing #2021-025: American Cargo Group of TX, Inc.
• Hearing #2021-024: Mary Battley vs Westlake Services, LLC DBA Westlake Financial Services
• Discussion of 2022 Legislation: HB591 and SB152
• Ratification of Next-Generation Ford EV additions to 20+ Louisiana Ford dealers
• Ratification of manufacturer licenses for Ford, General Motors, Proterra, and others

The Commission approved several consent judgments involving fines for Louisiana Machinery Company, Energy Rental Solutions, and others. It also ratified a large volume of initial licenses for manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. Additionally, the Commission decided that licenses are no longer required for the sale of certain Briggs & Stratton and Kohler engines used to build marine motors.

• Approved consent judgment for Louisiana Machinery Company (Alexandria) for $25,200 fine plus $400 cost
• Approved consent judgment for Louisiana Machinery Company (Broussard) for $21,425 fine ($3,350 suspended) plus $400 cost
• Approved consent judgment for Louisiana Machinery Company (Hammond) for $18,088 fine plus $400 cost
• Approved consent judgment for Louisiana Machinery Company (Harvey) for $17,272 fine plus $400 cost
• Approved consent judgment for Louisiana Machinery Company (Monroe) for $42,950 fine ($6,425 suspended) plus $400 cost
• Approved consent judgment for Louisiana Machinery Company (Reserve) for $20,850 fine plus $400 cost
• Approved consent judgment for Louisiana Machinery Company (St. Rose) for $21,825 fine plus $400 cost
• Decided licenses are no longer required for sales of Briggs & Stratton and Kohler engines used to build marine motors

Motor Vehicle Commission

The Commission met to discuss 2022 legislative items HB 591 and SB 152. The meeting included the ratification of numerous manufacturer, dealer, and distributor licenses across various vehicle categories.

• Hearing regarding Southfork Custom Boat Mfg. Inc. (Southfork)
• Discussion of 2022 Legislation HB 591 and SB 152
• Ratification of new motor vehicle dealer licenses, including additions of Hyundai IONIQ EV and Volkswagen BEV brands
• Ratification of manufacturer and factory branch licenses for companies including Club Car, LLC and Nissan North America, Inc.
• Ratification of recreational product dealer licenses, including the establishment of a Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. location in Broussard

The Commission approved a wide range of initial and updated licenses for motor vehicle dealers, manufacturers, and lessors. Several consent judgments were ratified, resulting in fines for multiple businesses. The board also renewed a legal contract for Counselor Burgess E. McCranie, Jr.

• Approved $45,000 annual contract renewal for Counselor Burgess E. McCranie, Jr. (Unanimous)
• Fined Southfork Custom Boat Mfg. Inc. $2,500 plus $1,826.02 in hearing costs
• Ratified $2,500 fine for S3 Supply, L.L.C. ($2,000 suspended) (Unanimous)
• Ratified $1,250 fine for Trailers by Premier, LLC ($625 suspended) (Unanimous)
• Ratified $1,250 fine for Trailers RTO, LLC ($625 suspended) (Unanimous)
• Ratified $1,250 fine for Premier Portable Buildings of Alexandria ($625 suspended) (Unanimous)
• Ratified $4,000 fine for iTA Truck Sales & Service, L.L.C. at three locations ($2,000 suspended per location) (Unanimous)
• Ratified $15,000 fine for IC Bus, LLC (Unanimous)

Motor Vehicle Commission

The Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission will hold an executive session on personnel and legal matters, then ratify numerous distributor, dealer, convertor, and other licenses issued since the last meeting. Most items are routine ratifications of license additions, changes in ownership, or relocations. Notable are the addition of General Motors' Hummer EV brand to five Buick-GMC dealerships and Volkswagen's BEV electric vehicle to six Volkswagen dealerships across the state.

• Addition of Hummer EV brand to Sterling Buick-GMC (Opelousas), Legacy Buick GMC (Slidell), All Star Buick GMC (Sulphur), Royal Buick GMC (Baton Rouge), and others
• Addition of Volkswagen BEV electric vehicle to dealerships in Mandeville, Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Metairie, Harvey, and Lafayette
• Change in corporate ownership for Superior Ford (Zachary) and Van-Trow Toyota (Monroe)
• Relocation of Sterling Hyundai from 5001 Johnston Street to 6606 Johnston Street in Lafayette
• Ratification of numerous lessor licenses including U-Haul, Enterprise, Penske, and Zipcar locations

The Commission unanimously approved several consent judgments involving fines and probation for motor vehicle dealers. It also ratified numerous initial and updated licenses for distributors, convertors, and recreational product dealers.

• Approved consent judgment for Clark Crain Autoplex St. Francisville, LA LLC: $20,000 fine and $400 pre-hearing cost
• Approved consent judgment for Entegra Capital LLC: $10,000 fine and $400 pre-hearing cost
• Approved consent judgment for Club Car, LLC: $7,500 fine ($5,000 suspended for 2 years probation) and $400 pre-hearing cost
• Approved consent judgment for Orr Motors of Shreveport, Inc. DBA Orr Cadillac: $12,500 fine ($10,000 suspended for 1 year probation) and $400 pre-hearing cost
• Approved consent judgment for Orr Motors of Louisiana, Inc. DBA Orr Acura, Orr Infiniti: $12,500 fine ($10,000 suspended for 1 year probation)
• Approved consent judgment for Wal-Mart Louisiana, LLC: $7,500 fine ($3,750 suspended for 1 year probation) and $400 pre-hearing cost
• Ratified initial Distributor license for Kia America, Inc. (Irvin, California)
• Ratified initial Convertor licenses for Medix Specialty Vehicles, Halcore Group, Ryan Ambulance, Vactor Manufacturing, and LDV, Inc.