Lege TREND. 5 Reasons Auto Dealers Oppose Direct Sales by manufacturers in the Mountain Laurel State

State: Connecticut

The Connecticut bill: HB 5310 (2018)

How does CT HB 5310 allow for directr sales?

  • Re-define manufacturer
  • Allow for manufacturer sales when:
    • only Electric Vehicles
    • There are no franchise agreements
    • only sells its own cars
    • is duly licensed
    • isn’t owned by another manufacturer
    • doesn’t own another manufacturer

What are 5  opposition arguments from motor vehicle dealers in CT?

  • Aren’t you special? “Tesla wants special treatment”
  • Foreigners. fear that 25 other international manufacturers would set up shop in CT
  • It’s not fair. “unfair playing field”
  • When in doubt, throw California under the bus. “ Any decision that supports a California company over our local jobs is not the right one.”
  • Protectionism. A Mercedes dealer owner says ““It’s not about competition,” Aiosa said. “We welcome Tesla. It’s about dismantling the franchise system.”

New Haven Register | Tesla makes plea to sell electric cars in Connecticut

 

Lege TREND. Bill to Grant Auto Dealers Ability to File Suit Against Direct Sales in 2 Steps.

State: Missouri

The Legislation: MO SB872 (2018) 

Bill Description: Enacts provisions relating to motor vehicle franchises

How does it lay goundwork for autodealers to file suit concerning direct sales?

  • Establishes the dealer franchise sales was enacte to be fair, uniform and without discrimination
  • Allows any dealer/franchise to bring suit in Cole County against any entity that seeks to sell vehicles wihout a franchise agreement

St. Louis Today | Auto dealers renew fight against Tesla in Jefferson City

TX Attorney General Opinion. THE LOOPHOLE on Tollroads. Administrative Fee Cap. The Legislative Fix.

LOOPHOLES in the Attorney General Cap on administrative fees: toll roads that are operated by non-TXDOT entities, or that have contracts awarded for operation by non-TXDOT entities.

What’s an example of a non-TXDOT tollroad? Tollraods operated by Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority

What’s the legislative fix? Adding the administrative cap to Texas Transportation Code, Section 370 which govrns tollroads operated by regional mobility authorities.

Statesman | Wear: Why toll fees remain uncapped on some Central Texas roads

Refreshing our recollection, informed:intel:

 

Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0184 establishes that 2017’s SB 312 caps administrative fees of private toll operators too.

Yes, yes it does and here is why:

  • Operators get to operate a toll lane only by order of TXDOT
  • TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 228.007(a)  says the toll operation agreements charge a toll “under this section”
  • “This section 228.007(b)(2) gives the toll operator the same duties as TXDOT which means the limits on administrative fees applies

4 Local Government Funding Issues. 1 Ride Share Tax. 2 Arguments to Support the Cause.

San Francisco City Council members want to tax ride share to fund:

  • police services
  • street resurfacing
  • traffic calming
  • pedestrian safety

Supporters say:

  • California is behind the times, localities like Chicago, Portland & Philadelphia tax ride share
  • State lawmakers should let cities regulate the entities that impact them

CBS SanFrancisco | San Francisco Supervisor Wants Tax On Uber And Lyft

5 Points. Saguaro Cactus State Autonomous Vehicle Executive Order. Copy it for your State.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey revised Executive Order: 2018-04 on autonmous vehicles includes:

  • follow applicable traffic laws and regulations of Arizona and the federal government
  • fully autonomous vehicles, with no driver in the vehicle, and on pulic roads must:
    • written statement to AZ Department of Transportation (AZDOT)
    • or, within 60 days of this order provide a written statement
    • waivers from the National Highway Safety Administration will be recognized
    • autonomous vehicle failures must achieve a minimal risk condition
    • the person operating the vehicle can still be issued a traffic citation
    • get the cars registered, licensed and insured

Attorney General Opinion. 3 Key Points Toll Road Operators Opinion. Bluebonnet State.

Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0184 establishes that 2017’s SB 312 caps administrative fees of private toll operators too.

Yes, yes it does and here is why:

  • Operators get to operate a toll lane only by order of TXDOT
  • TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 228.007(a)  says the toll operation agreements charge a toll “under this section”
  • “This section 228.007(b)(2) gives the toll operator the same duties as TXDOT which means the limits on administrative fees applies

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Connected Cars. Will states allow the sale of connected car data? 3 Key Points.

  • It is projected that the sale of connected car data wille a multiple billion dollar industry by 2020
  • In 2017, more cars were connected to cellular netowrks than new phones
  • Will states protect consumer connected car data, for instance:
    • will disclosures be required to share data with the manufacturer?
    • will disclosures allow for limited data sharing to the driver’s insurance company but not to related 3rd parties
    • will a hard wired privacy switch be required?

ARS TECHNICA | Car companies are preparing to sell driver data to the highest bidder 

3 New Issues Raised by Sheriffs On Texas Bullet Train Path. New Sheriff Coalition.

New Sheriff Coalition: Sheriffs from Grimes, Navarro, Freestone, Limestone, Leon, Madison, Waller, and Ellis counties

Issues that the Sheriff’s raise about the high speed rail in Texas?

  • Which law enforcement agency is repsonsible for patrolling the track?
  • “Who’s going to be responsible for hazmat emergency services if it derailed over there?”
  • Has there been a survey of emergency response teams and hospitals along the track, is fire or hospital distance and response impacted?

 

KBTX Texas | Local sheriffs concerned about public safety along proposed bullet train route

KWTX 10 | Central Texas sheriffs join coalition to address high speed rail concerns