HB 1453 Summary

• Establishes a dealer services division within the office of the secretary of state with a director appointed by the secretary to administer and enforce vehicle dealer services statutes and rules.

• Lowers the dealer threshold from 12 vehicles per year to 5 vehicles per year; increases auto auctioneer threshold from 1 vehicle to more than 6 vehicles per year.

• Creates the dealer enforcement account funded by civil penalties and violations; establishes civil penalty authority up to $10,000 per violation for dealers and regulated parties.

• Establishes the motor vehicle advisory board with 9 members representing franchised dealers, manufacturers, public interest, used dealers, auctioneers, and salvage industry to advise the secretary on dealer services administration.

• Repeals and consolidates prior vehicle dealer service statutes (IC 9-22, 9-23, 9-29-7, 9-31-4) into new IC 9-32 effective July 1, 2011; provides criminal penalties for specific violations ranging from Class C infractions to Class D felonies.