News from Idaho Automobile Dealers Association

AND THEY'RE OFF! 2010 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS

The Regular Session of the Idaho Legislature convened at the Idaho Capitol in Boise last week. As required by the Idaho constitution, the legislative session will run continuously until the budget is balanced. Thus making the end date somewhat of a guessing game at best. IADA has plans to run several pieces of legislation this year dealing with service contract advertising, financial minimums for insurance companies backing service contracts and a new dealer laden plate for transporting vehicles using your new inventory. IADA will also be looking at introducing a legislative statement of intent that clearly outlines, and places in Idaho code, the need for the state legislature to regulate the relationship between dealers and their manufacturers.

In addition to our legislation there has been many other bills filed during the first week of Session by other industries regarding identity theft, workers compensation, automobile insurance, emission inspections, and sales tax collection. IADA will be monitoring these bills as they move through the process. For additional questions on any legislation, please contact Trent Wright.

AAA ARBITRATION INFORMATION
The following bulletin on the Chrysler and GM arbitrations was prepared by the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association and sent yesterday to its dealer members. Please feel free to use it as you deem appropriate. Keep in mind that that this is a new and unsettled area of the law. All dealers are strongly encouraged to consult with their legal counsel about their rights under the recently enacted federal statute. http://www.idahoada.org/ArbitrationUpdate1-13-10.pdf

Dealers with questions may contact Michelle Skipper with the American Arbitration Association at 704 6430in

NADA CONVENTION PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JAN. 27

Over the past several days, pre-registration for the NADA Convention & Expo, Feb. 13-15, has surged. If fact, registration numbers today are ahead of where they were last year at this time. So, in order to provide attendees with more time to sign up for the convention, the pre-registration deadline - which includes a $50-$75 cost savings - has been extended to Wednesday, Jan. 27. If you have not yet registered, now is the time.

Take advantage of this opportunity to find ways to improve your business and prepare for an economic rebound during next month's convention in Orlando. Please take a minute and register here.

NADA CONVENTION OFFERS NEARLY 100 WORKSHOPS

Focus on Managing Cash Flow, Inventory and Service Productivity

Next month's NADA Convention & Expo in Orlando (Feb. 13-15) couldn't come at a better time to help dealers and their managers plan for the year ahead. It's the perfect time for dealers to look for ways to improve their businesses and prepare for an economic rebound. (Read more)

IDAHO STATE OUTLOOK

The December 2009 Idaho Economic Outlook is now available on the Idaho Division of Financial Management's website.

CLICK HERE

REMINDER TO BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY

IADA would like to remind members to be alert to potential scams and fraudulent activity. Dealers have recently received invoices for unsolicited quarterly marketing subscriptions. As with many similar scams, the invoices appear legitimate - and the company may even have a Web site listing the dealership - but the dealerships never requested a service from the company.

Another member contacted IADA to warn dealers to use additional caution when allowing individuals with out-of-state licenses to test drive a vehicle. In a recent instance, a woman came into the store and provided an out-of-state license that did not appear to belong to her. After the dealership made a copy of the license, the woman decided she was no longer interested in the test drive and left. There is a possibility she intended to leave the state with the demo vehicle.