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Tesla Motors and Ohio - SB 137, SB 260 - Owners/Advocates Call to Action

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Did anyone else in Ohio receive this email from Tesla? Is anyone going to there to show support?

Dear Tesla Advocates,

The Dealers in Ohio are working hard to pass legislation to prevent Tesla from selling vehicles in your state. As a Tesla advocate in Ohio we need your help now. This legislation, SB 137, would change existing law to exclude Tesla from opening or operating any additional facilities in Ohio. Make no mistake – this bill would prevent Tesla from opening stores and service locations in Ohio!

Tesla is putting boots on the ground to fight for consumer choice – and you too can play a part TODAY.

Please contact the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Senate President, yourlocal Senator and state Assemblyman, and let them know that you want Tesla to stay and grow in Ohio! Please join us and other Tesla Advocates at the Capitol for the House Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee hearing onDecember 4, 2013 to show your support for Tesla and against SB 137.

Did you know:
There are more than 250 Tesla Roadster and Model S owners in Ohio with more joining our community every week.
Ohio companies supplied well over $10 million in parts and components this year to build Model S vehicles in the United States, with that number expected to double by this time next year.
With a service center in Dublin and stores opening in Columbus and Cincinnati this month, Tesla will support 26 employees, and every location will add an initial $7 million in direct economic activity to the State. Tesla will be banned from creating additional jobs, opening new locations and bringing substantial economic investment from a U.S. company to Ohio if this legislation passes.
Tesla intends to install a number of Superchargers to enable long distance travel in the State before the end of the year to support the growing number of Tesla owners in the region.
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Am I an idiot or am I missing how SB 137 affects Tesla Motors?

SB 137 Full Text
 
Did anyone else in Ohio receive this email from Tesla? Is anyone going to there to show support?


- - - Updated - - -

Am I an idiot or am I missing how SB 137 affects Tesla Motors?


SB 137 Full Text


I am over here in PA and didn't get the email, but am a former OH resident, and would definitely write letters if needed. Agreed that SB 137 does not look applicable...I would guess that section 4517 would be where Tesla would be targeted.

Lawriter - ORC

Perhaps you can get clarification/confirmation from Tesla on this?
 
THIS IS HUGE!!!

Here is an amendment the Dealer lobby is trying to sneak into this otherwise neutral bill!!!

4517.12 Denial of license as motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, manufactured home broker, or motor vehicle auction owner.
(A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall deny the application of any person for a license as a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, or motor vehicle auction owner and refuse to issue the license if the registrar finds that the applicant:
(1) Has made any false statement of a material fact in the application;
(2) Has not complied with sections 4517.01 to 4517.45 of the Revised Code;
(3) Is of bad business repute or has habitually defaulted on financial obligations;
(4) Is engaged or will engage in the business of selling at retail any new motor vehicles without having written authority from the manufacturer or distributor thereof to sell new motor vehicles and to perform repairs under the terms of the manufacturer's or distributor's new motor vehicle warranty, except as provided in division (C) of this section and except that a person who assembles or installs special equipment or accessories for handicapped persons, as defined in section 4503.44 of the Revised Code, upon a motor vehicle chassis supplied by a manufacturer or distributor shall not be denied a license pursuant to division (A)(4) of this section;
(5) Has been guilty of a fraudulent act in connection with selling or otherwise dealing in, or leasing, motor vehicles, or in connection with brokering manufactured homes;
(6) Has entered into or is about to enter into a contract or agreement with a manufacturer or distributor of motor vehicles that is contrary to sections 4517.01 to 4517.45 of the Revised Code;
(7) Is insolvent;
(8) Is of insufficient responsibility to ensure the prompt payment of any final judgments that might reasonably be entered against the applicant because of the transaction of business as a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle leasing dealer, or motor vehicle auction owner during the period of the license applied for, or has failed to satisfy any such judgment;
(9) Has no established place of business that, where applicable, is used or will be used for the purpose of selling, displaying, offering for sale, dealing in, or leasing motor vehicles at the location for which application is made;
(10) Has, less than twelve months prior to making application, been denied a motor vehicle dealer's, motor vehicle leasing dealer's, or motor vehicle auction owner's license, or has any such license revoked.
(11) Is a manufacturer or a subsidiary, parent, or affiliated entity of a manufacturer. applying for a license to sell or lease new or used vehicles at retail. Nothing in this division shall prohibit a manufacturer from disposing of vehicles at wholesale at the termination of a consumer lease through a motor vehicle auction. This division shall not serve as a basis for termination, revocation, or non-renewal of a license granted prior to the effective date of this provision.
(B) If the applicant is a corporation or partnership, the registrar may refuse to issue a license if any officer, director, or partner of the applicant has been guilty of any act or omission that would be cause for refusing or revoking a license issued to such officer, director, or partner as an individual. The registrar's finding may be based upon facts contained in the application or upon any other information the registrar may have. Immediately upon denying an application for any of the reasons in this section, the registrar shall enter a final order together with the registrar's findings and certify the same to the motor vehicle dealers' and salespersons' licensing board.
(C) Notwithstanding division (A)(4) of this section, the registrar shall not deny the application of any person and refuse to issue a license if the registrar finds that the applicant is engaged or will engage in the business of selling at retail any new motor vehicles and demonstrates all of the following in the form prescribed by the registrar:
(1) That the applicant has posted a bond, surety, or certificate of deposit with the registrar in an amount not less than one hundred thousand dollars for the protection and benefit of the applicant's customers except that a new motor vehicle dealer who is not exclusively engaged in the business of selling remanufactured vehicles shall not be required to post the bond, surety, or certificate of deposit otherwise required by division (C)(1) of this section;
(2)
That, at the time of the sale of the vehicle, each customer of the applicant will be furnished with a warranty issued by the remanufacturer for a term of at least one year;
(3) That the applicant provides and maintains at the applicant's location and place of business a permanent facility with all of the following:
(a) A showroom with space, under roof, for the display of at least one new motor vehicle;
(b) A service and parts facility for remanufactured vehicles;
(c) Full-time service and parts personnel with the proper training and technical expertise to service the remanufactured vehicles sold by the applicant.
 
I contacted all my representatives today. How ridiculous.

Two other points I found really interesting:
1. There are only 250 Tesla Owners in Ohio so far. Wow this seems low but explains the reaction my car receives.
2. They intend on starting multiple supercharger sites in Ohio by the end of the year!
 
Tesla Faces Off Against Car Dealers In Another State: Ohio - Hearing Today

Once more into the fray: Another state's car dealers are pushing for legislation to ban Tesla Motors from selling its electric cars directly to buyers.
This time it's Ohio. And legislators have unexpectedly moved up a hearing on the new law to today, according to a letter from Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA].

The hearing takes place early this afternoon..

The Ohio Dealers Association is backing an amendment to Ohio Senate Bill 137--an unrelated bill that requires Ohio drivers to move left so as to leave an empty lane between themselves and highway maintenance vehicles at the side of the road, Attaching the anti-Tesla amendment to an uncontroversial bill already moving toward adoption could see it become law more quickly than on its own.

Tesla has urged its Ohio owners and supporters to attend the hearing in Ohio Statehouse Room 122 at 1:30 pm today.

Link and full story:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...off-against-car-dealers-in-another-state-ohio
 
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Here's what I told the governor:

Governor Kasich--


I understand the Ohio legislature is considering a bill to ban direct manufacturer sale of automobiles to the public.


This bill, which seems aimed directly at Tesla Motors, is a classic example of special-interest protectionism run amok. Tesla represents the most exciting innovation in the automotive space in decades. It has shown that American innovation still can lead the world, and it is on track to bring jobs and economic development to Ohio and throughout the country.


Moreover, my family members in Ohio are all extremely excited about the environmental benefits that Tesla provides.


I hope that if this bill passes, your principled support for open markets and competition will lead you to veto it.
 
Someone on autobloggreen said the bill was passed through a rushed session. So the only chance right now may be to try to get a governor veto.

Of course just in case that source is unreliable, writing to legislators still matters.