Vehicles: vehicle dealers.

Existing law prohibits a licensed dealer from engaging in certain practices, including, among others, making an untrue or misleading statement indicating that a vehicle is equipped with all the factory-installed optional equipment the manufacturer offers. Under existing law, a violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill would, subject to exceptions, additionally prohibit a dealer from selling or otherwise transferring ownership at retail of a used vehicle, as specified, if the dealer knows or should have known that the vehicle is subject to a manufacturer's safety recall, unless the repairs required to correct the defect have been performed on the vehicle. The bill would define the term "manufacturer's safety recall." Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime under other provisions of existing law, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also make a violation of these provisions actionable under the Consumers Legal Remedies Act and the Unfair Competition Law, and as false advertising. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.