Section 11710 Of Article 1. Issuance Of Licenses And Certificates To Manufacturers, Transporters, And Dealers From California Vehicle Code >> Division 5. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 1.
11710
. (a) Before any dealer's or remanufacturer's license is
issued or renewed by the department to any applicant therefor, the
applicant shall procure and file with the department a bond executed
by an admitted surety insurer, approved as to form by the Attorney
General, and conditioned that the applicant shall not practice any
fraud or make any fraudulent representation which will cause a
monetary loss to a purchaser, seller, financing agency, or
governmental agency.
(b) A dealer's bond shall be in the amount of fifty thousand
dollars ($50,000), except the bond of a dealer who deals exclusively
in motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles shall be in the amount of ten
thousand dollars ($10,000). Before the license is renewed by the
department, the dealer, other than a dealer who deals exclusively in
motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles, shall procure and file a bond in
the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). A remanufacturer
bond shall be in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(c) Liability under the bond is to remain at full value. If the
amount of liability under the bond is decreased or there is
outstanding a final court judgment for which the dealer or
remanufacturer and sureties are liable, the dealer's or
remanufacturer's license shall be automatically suspended. In order
to reinstate the license and special plates, the licensee shall
either file an additional bond or restore the bond on file to the
original amount, or shall terminate the outstanding judgment for
which the dealer or remanufacturer and sureties are liable.
(d) A dealer's or remanufacturer's license, or renewal of the
license, shall not be issued to any applicant therefor, unless and
until the applicant files with the department a good and sufficient
instrument, in writing, in which the applicant appoints the director
as the true and lawful agent of the applicant upon whom all process
may be served in any action, or actions, which may thereafter be
commenced against the applicant, arising out of any claim for damages
suffered by any firm, person, association, or corporation, by reason
of the violation of the applicant of any of the terms and provisions
of this code or any condition of the dealer's or remanufacturer's
bond. The applicant shall stipulate and agree in the appointment that
any process directed to the applicant, when personal service of
process upon the applicant cannot be made in this state after due
diligence and, in that case, is served upon the director or, in the
event of the director's absence from the office, upon any employee in
charge of the office of the director, shall be of the same legal
force and effect as if served upon the applicant personally. The
applicant shall further stipulate and agree, in writing, that the
agency created by the appointment shall continue for and during the
period covered by any license that may be issued and so long
thereafter as the applicant may be made to answer in damages for a
violation of this code or any condition of the bond. The instrument
appointing the director as the agent for the applicant for service of
process shall be acknowledged by the applicant before a notary
public. In any case where the licensee is served with process by
service upon the director, one copy of the summons and complaint
shall be left with the director or in the director's office in
Sacramento or mailed to the office of the director in Sacramento. A
fee of five dollars ($5) shall also be paid to the director at the
time of service of the copy of the summons and complaint. Service on
the director shall be a sufficient service on the licensee if a
notice of service and a copy of the summons and complaint are
immediately sent by registered mail by the plaintiff or the plaintiff'
s attorney to the licensee. A copy of the summons and complaint shall
also be mailed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney to the
surety on the applicant's bond at the address of the surety given in
the bond, postpaid and registered with request for return receipt.
The director shall keep a record of all process so served upon the
director, which record shall show the day and hour of service and
shall retain the summons and complaint so served on file. Where the
licensee is served with process by service upon the director, the
licensee shall have and be allowed 30 days from and after the service
within which to answer any complaint or other pleading which may be
filed in the cause. However, for purposes of venue, where the
licensee is served with process by service upon the director, the
service is deemed to have been made upon the licensee in the county
in which the licensee has or last had an established place of
business.