Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 32 > Chapter 6 > Part I - General Provisions Applicable to Motor Vehicles and Recreational Products

• All-terrain vehicle: shall mean any vehicle manufactured for off-road use and issued a manufacturer's statement or certificate of origin, as required by the commission, that cannot be issued a registration certificate and license to operate on the public roads of this state because, at the time of manufacture, the vehicle does not meet the safety requirements prescribed by La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• area of responsibility: shall mean the licensee's area of principal sales and service responsibility as specified by the franchise in effect with any licensee of the commission. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Authority: shall mean the Department of Transportation and Development. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:1253
• Boat: means a component of a marine product that is not equipped with an outboard or inboard/outboard motor attached thereto. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Boat package: means a boat that is equipped from its manufacturer or distributor with an inboard, outboard, or inboard/outboard motor or engine attached thereto, installed thereon, or shipped or invoiced together as a package. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Broker: means a person who, for a fee or commission, arranges or offers to arrange a transaction involving the sale, for purposes other than resale, of a new motor vehicle or recreational product, and who is not:

              (a) A motor vehicle dealer or recreational products dealer, or bona fide employee of a motor vehicle dealer, when acting on behalf of a motor vehicle or recreational products dealer. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252

• Commission: means the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission created by this Chapter or its designee. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Dealer: means any person licensed to sell a motor vehicle, specialty vehicle, or recreational product subject to regulation by this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Dealer-operator: shall mean the natural person designated in the franchise as the operator of a motor vehicle dealership. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• Designated successor: means the spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother, or sister, of a dealer who, in the case of a deceased dealer, is entitled to inherit the dealer's ownership interest in the dealership under the terms of the dealer's will; the spouse, or other person who has otherwise been designated in writing by a deceased dealer to succeed him in the motor vehicle dealership, such designation having been furnished to the manufacturer; or the spouse, or other person who, under the laws of intestate succession of this state is entitled to inherit the interest; or who, in the case of an incapacitated dealer, has been appointed by a court in a proceeding interdicting the dealer as the legal representative of the dealer's property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Devise: To gift property by will.
• Distributor branch: means a branch office maintained by a person, resident or nonresident, who in whole or in part sells or distributes motor vehicles or recreational products to motor vehicle or recreational products dealers, or for directing or supervising, in whole or in part, its representatives. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Distributor representative: means any officer, agent, or employee employed by a distributor, distributor branch, or wholesaler. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• East bank segment: shall mean a limited access express toll highway to be located in a corridor extending from the Shreveport area near or at Interstate Route 20 and proceeding southward wholly or primarily on the east bank of the Red River. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:1253
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Established place or established place of business: shall mean a permanently enclosed building or structure either owned, leased, or rented, which meets local zoning or municipal requirements, and regularly occupied by a person, easily accessible to the public at which the regular business of a licensee will be carried on in good faith, and, at which place of business shall be kept and maintained the books, records, and files necessary to conduct the business; and shall not mean residences, tents, temporary stands, lots, or any temporary quarters. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• expressway project: shall mean any limited access express highway, bridge, tunnel, approach or facility thereto constructed or to be constructed under the provisions of this Chapter, including but not limited to bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, traffic circles, interchanges, feeder roads, landscaping, entrance plazas, approaches, toll houses, service areas, communication facilities, such facilities for motor fuel and food as the authority may deem necessary or desirable, and administration, storage and other buildings which the authority may deem necessary for the operation of such project, together with all property, rights, easements and interests which may be acquired by the authority for the construction or the operation of such project. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:1253
• Factory branch: means a branch office maintained by a person who fabricates, manufactures, or assembles motor vehicles or recreational products, for the sale of motor vehicles or recreational products to distributors, or for the sale of motor vehicles or recreational products to motor vehicle or recreational products dealers, or for directing or supervising, in whole or in part, its representatives. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Factory representative: means any officer, agent, or employee employed by a person who fabricates, manufactures, or assembles motor vehicles or recreational products, or by a factory branch, for the purpose of making or promoting the sale of his, its, or their motor vehicles or recreational products, or for supervising or contacting his, its, or their dealers or prospective dealers. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Finance charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. ^{Source: OCC}
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Franchise: means any written contract or selling agreement between a motor vehicle or recreational products dealer, a motor vehicle lessor, or a specialty vehicle dealer and a manufacturer, motor vehicle lessor franchisor, or converter of a new motor vehicle or specialty vehicle or its distributor or factory branch by which the motor vehicle or recreational products dealer, motor vehicle lessor, or specialty vehicle dealer is authorized to engage in the business of selling or leasing the specific makes, models, or classifications of new motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles marketed or leased by the manufacturer, motor vehicle lessor franchisor, or converter and designated in the franchise agreement or any addendum thereto. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
• Lease facilitator: means a person, other than a motor vehicle or recreational products dealer or a bona fide employee of a motor vehicle or recreational products dealer, or a motor vehicle lessor or a bona fide employee of a motor vehicle lessor, who engages in one or both of the following activities:

              (a) Holds himself out to any person as a "motor vehicle leasing company" or "motor vehicle leasing agent" or uses a similar title, for the purpose of soliciting or procuring a person to enter into a contract or agreement to become the lessee of a motor vehicle or recreational product that is not, and will not be, titled in the name of and registered to the lease facilitator. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252

• Licensee: means any person who is required to be licensed by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Manufacturer: means any person, resident or nonresident, who fabricates, manufactures, or assembles motor vehicles, recreational products, or new, remanufactured, reconditioned, or rebuilt motor vehicle or marine motors. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Marine dealer: means any person who holds a bona fide contract or franchise with a manufacturer or distributor of marine products, except for either of the following:

              (a) A person engaged in the business of renting or selling new or used watercraft or boats adapted to be powered only by an occupant's energy and who holds a license as a recreational products dealer pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252

• marine engine: means a motor that is a component of a marine product that is sold separately from a boat when delivered to the marine dealer by the distributor or manufacturer. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Marine product: means a new or used watercraft, boat, marine motor, and a boat or watercraft trailer. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Marine product salesman: means any natural person employed by a licensee of the commission whose duties include the selling, leasing, or offering for sale or lease, financing or insuring marine products on behalf of the licensee and who holds a motor vehicle salesman license under the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Motor vehicle: means any motor driven car, van, or truck required to be registered which is used, or is designed to be used, for the transporting of passengers or goods for public, private, commercial, or for hire purposes. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Motor vehicle dealer: means any person, not excluded by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph who holds a bona fide franchise in effect with a manufacturer or distributor of new motor vehicles, and a license under the provisions of this Chapter or a subsidiary of any such entity. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Motor vehicle lessor: shall mean any person, not excluded by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, engaged in the motor vehicle, recreational products, or specialty vehicle leasing or rental business. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Motor vehicle lessor agent: means any natural person, other than a daily rental person, employed by a motor vehicle lessor licensed by the commission whose duties include the leasing, renting or offering for lease or rent motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles on behalf of said motor vehicle lessor. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Motor vehicle lessor franchisor: means any person who grants a franchise to any person granting the right to lease or rent a motor vehicle, recreational product, or specialty vehicle under its trade name, trademark, or service mark or to sell used motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles formerly a part of its rental fleet. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Motor vehicle salesman: means any natural person employed by a licensee of the commission whose duties include the selling, leasing, or offering for sale or lease, financing or insuring motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles on behalf of said licensee. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Motorcycle: means a motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground but excluding a tractor, electric-assisted bicycle, and electric-powered scooters not required to be registered. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle salesman: means any natural person employed by a licensee of the commission whose duties include the selling, leasing, or offering for sale or lease, financing or insuring motorcycle or all-terrain vehicles on behalf of said licensee and who holds a motor vehicle salesman license under the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Person: shall mean any natural or juridical person, firm, association, corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability partnership, professional liability corporation, or limited liability company or any other legal entity. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
• Recreational products: means new and unused motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, marine products, recreational vehicles, and trailers as defined in this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Recreational products dealer: means any person who, for a commission or with intent to make a profit or gain of money or other thing of value, buys, sells, brokers, exchanges, auctions, offers, or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in recreational products and who is engaged wholly or in part in the business of buying and selling recreational products in the state of Louisiana. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• recreational vehicle: includes new and used motor homes, new and used travel trailers, new and used fifth-wheel travel trailers, new and used folding camper trailers, and slide-in truck campers. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Recreational vehicle dealer: means any person who, for a commission or with intent to make a profit or gain of money or other thing of value, buys, sells, brokers, exchanges, auctions, offers, or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in recreational vehicles and who is engaged wholly or in part in the business of buying and selling recreational vehicles in the state of Louisiana and who holds a license as a recreational products dealer under the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Recreational vehicle salesman: means any natural person employed by a licensee of the commission whose duties include the selling, leasing, or offering for sale or lease, financing or insuring recreational vehicles on behalf of said licensee and who holds a motor vehicle salesman license under the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• revenue bonds: shall mean bonds of the authority authorized under the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:1253
• Satellite warranty and repair center: means a motor vehicle repair facility, other than at a motor vehicle dealer franchised location, approved by a manufacturer or distributor and authorized to perform warranty and other repairs on motor vehicles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• secondary manufacturer: means a person who prior to the retail sale of motor vehicles or trailers, assembles, installs, or affixes a body, cab, or special equipment to a chassis, or who substantially adds, subtracts from, or modifies a previously assembled or manufactured motor vehicle or trailer, but does not include towable equipment as defined in this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Selling agreement: means any written contract or agreement between a marine dealer and a manufacturer, or its distributor or factory branch, by which the marine dealer is authorized to engage in the business of selling or leasing the specific makes, models, or classifications of marine products marketed or leased by the manufacturer, and designated in the selling agreement or any addendum thereto. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Specialty vehicle: means a motor vehicle manufactured by a second stage manufacturer by purchasing motor vehicle components, including frames and drive trains, and completing the manufacture of finished motor vehicles for the purpose of resale, with the primary manufacturer warranty unimpaired, to a limited commercial market rather than the consuming public. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Specialty vehicle dealer: means any person who holds a bona fide franchise in effect with a converter or second stage manufacturer of specialty vehicles and a license under the provisions of this Chapter or a subsidiary of any such entity. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Subsidiary: shall mean any person engaged in the selling or leasing of motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles, in which a majority of the ownership interests of such entity is owned by a holder of a license issued by the commission. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Tow dolly: means a trailer equipped with one or more axles designed to connect to a tow bar on the rear of a motor vehicle that is used to tow another vehicle and is not a type of towable equipment as defined in this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Towable equipment: means equipment that is permanently affixed to or integrated upon a trailer intended for use when the trailer is not traveling on a road and where its capability for road travel or transport of other property is incidental or secondary to the primary operational purpose of the equipment including but not limited to towable signage, message boards, generators, lighting tower masts, speed monitoring and traffic cameras, air compressors, water pumps, crash attenuators, or road maintenance equipment such as a pothole patcher or a chipper brush. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Trailer: means every single vehicle without motive power designed for carrying property or passengers wholly on its own structure, drawn by a motor vehicle which carries no part of the weight and load of the trailer on its own wheels and having one or more load carrying axles including but not limited to utility trailers, boat trailers, recreational trailers, semitrailers, livestock trailers, tow dollies and dump trailers, and excluding towable equipment as defined in this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Trolling motor: means any self-contained unit composed of an electric motor, propeller, and controls that may be affixed to a boat and that acts as a source, but not typically the primary source, of propulsion for the boat. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Ultimate purchaser: means , with respect to any new motor vehicle, recreational product, or specialty vehicle, the first person, other than a dealer purchasing in his capacity as a dealer, who in good faith purchases such new motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles for purposes other than resale. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used marine dealer: means any person whose business is to sell, or offer for sale, display, or advertise used marine products, or any person who holds a license from the commission and is not excluded by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used marine product: means a marine product, the legal title of which has been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used marine product facility: means any facility which is owned and operated by a licensee of the commission and offers for sale used marine products. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used motor vehicle: means a motor vehicle, recreational product, or specialty vehicle, the legal title of which has been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used motor vehicle dealer: means any person whose business is to sell, or offer for sale, display, or advertise used motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles, or any person who holds a license from the commission and is not excluded by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used motor vehicle facility: means any facility which is owned and operated by a licensee of the commission and offers for sale used motor vehicles, recreational products, or specialty vehicles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle: means a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle, the legal title of which has been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealer: means any person whose business is to sell, or offer for sale, display, or advertise used motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles, or any person who holds a license from the commission and is not excluded by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle facility: means any facility which is owned and operated by a licensee of the commission and offers for sale used motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used recreational vehicle: means a recreational vehicle, the legal title of which has been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used recreational vehicle dealer: means any person whose business is to sell, or offer for sale, display, or advertise used recreational vehicles, or any person who holds a license from the commission and is not excluded by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Used recreational vehicle facility: means any facility which is owned and operated by a licensee of the commission and offers for sale used recreational vehicles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Vehicle: means any motor vehicle, specialty vehicle, or recreational product subject to regulation by this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Watercraft: means any contrivance used or designated for navigation on water, including but not limited to a personal watercraft as defined in La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• wholesaler: means any person, resident or nonresident, who in whole or in part sells or distributes vehicles or new, remanufactured, reconditioned, or rebuilt motor vehicle motors to dealers, or who maintains distributor representatives. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252
• Wrecker: means any motor vehicle equipped with a boom or booms, winches, slings, tilt beds, or similar equipment designed for towing or recovery of vehicles and other objects which cannot operate under their own power or for some reason must be transported by means of towing. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:1252