The registrar of motor vehicles shall deny the application of any person for a license as a distributor and refuse to issue the license if the registrar finds that the applicant:

(A) Has made any false statement of a material fact in the application;

(B) Has not complied with sections 4517.01 to 4517.45 of the Revised Code;

(C) Is of bad business repute or has habitually defaulted on financial obligations;

(D) Is engaged or will engage in the business of distributing any new motor vehicle without having the authority of a contract with the manufacturer of the vehicle;

(E) Has been guilty of a fraudulent act in connection with selling or otherwise dealing in motor vehicles;

(F) Has entered into or is about to enter into a contract or agreement with a manufacturer of motor vehicles that is contrary to sections 4517.01 to 4517.45 of the Revised Code;

(G) Is insolvent;

(H) Is of insufficient responsibility to ensure the prompt payment of any financial judgment that might reasonably be entered against the applicant because of the transaction of business as a distributor during the period of the license applied for, or has failed to satisfy any such judgment;

(I) Has no established place of business that, where applicable, is used or will be used exclusively for the purpose of distributing new motor vehicles at the location for which application is made;

(J) Has, less than twelve months prior to making application, been denied a distributor's, motor vehicle dealer's, motor vehicle leasing dealer's, or motor vehicle auction owner's license, or had any such license revoked.

If the applicant is a corporation or partnership, the registrar may refuse to issue a license if any officer, director, employee, 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, employee, 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 board.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 08-25-1995 .