§ 10 §1432 — Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
1.
Camping trailer.
"Camping trailer" means a trailer constructed with collapsible partial side walls that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at the campsite to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use.
1-A.
Area of sales responsibility.
"Area of sales responsibility" means the geographical area agreed to by the dealer and the manufacturer in the dealer agreement within which the dealer has the exclusive right to display the manufacturer's new recreational vehicles of a particular line make to the retail public.
2.
Dealer.
"Dealer" means a person, firm, corporation or business entity licensed or required to be licensed under Title 29‑A, including a recreational vehicle dealer to whom a dealer agreement is offered or granted.
3.
Dealer agreement.
"Dealer agreement" means an oral or written arrangement for a definite or indefinite period in which a manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler grants to a recreational vehicle dealer a license to use a trade name, service mark or related characteristic and in which there is a community of interest in the marketing of recreational vehicles or services related to recreational vehicles at wholesale, retail or leasing.
4.
Designated family member.
"Designated family member" means the spouse, child, grandchild, parent or sibling of the owner of a new recreational vehicle dealer who, in the case of the owner's death, is entitled to inherit the ownership interest in the new recreational vehicle dealership under the terms of the owner's will or who, in the case of an incapacitated owner of a new recreational vehicle dealership, has been appointed by a court as the legal representative of the new recreational vehicle dealer's property.
5.
Distributor branch.
"Distributor branch" means a branch office maintained by a distributor or wholesaler that sells or distributes new or used recreational vehicles to recreational vehicle dealers.
6.
Distributor representative.
"Distributor representative" means a representative employed by a distributor branch, distributor or wholesaler.
7.
Distributor or wholesaler.
"Distributor" or "wholesaler" means any person that sells or distributes new or used recreational vehicles to recreational vehicle dealers or that maintains distributor representatives within this State.
8.
Factory branch.
"Factory branch" means a branch maintained by a manufacturer that manufactures or assembles recreational vehicles for sale to distributors or recreational vehicle dealers or that is maintained for directing and supervising the representatives of the manufacturer.
8-A.
Factory campaign.
"Factory campaign" means an effort on the part of a warrantor to contact recreational vehicle dealers or owners in order to address a part or equipment issue.
9.
Factory representative.
"Factory representative" means a representative employed by a manufacturer or employed by a factory branch for the purpose of making or promoting the sale of recreational vehicles or for contracting with, supervising, servicing, or instructing or contracting recreational vehicle dealers or prospective recreational vehicle dealers.
10.
Fifth-wheel trailer.
"Fifth-wheel trailer" means a vehicle mounted on wheels designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, of such size or weight as not to require special highway movement permits and designed to be towed by a motor vehicle that contains a towing mechanism mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle's rear axle.
10-A.
Folding camping trailer.
"Folding camping trailer" means a vehicle mounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial side walls that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use.
11.
Fraud.
"Fraud" includes, in addition to its normal legal connotation, a misrepresentation in any manner, whether intentionally false or due to gross negligence of a material fact, a promise or representation not made honestly and in good faith and an intentional failure to disclose a material fact.
12.
Good faith.
"Good faith" means honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing in the trade.
12-A.
Line make.
"Line make" means a specific series of recreational vehicles that:
13.
Manufacturer.
"Manufacturer" means any person, resident or nonresident, that manufactures or assembles new recreational vehicles or imports for distribution through distributors of recreational vehicles, or any person, resident or nonresident, that is controlled by the manufacturer who grants a dealer agreement to a recreational vehicle dealer. "Manufacturer" includes distributor or wholesaler, distributor branch, distributor representative, factory branch and factory representative.
13-A.
Motor home.
"Motor home" means a motor vehicle designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use that contains at least 4 of the following as permanently installed independent systems that meet the National Fire Protection Association standard for recreational vehicles:
14.
Motor vehicle.
Motor vehicle has the same meaning as defined in Title 29‑A, section 101, subsection 42.
15.
New recreational vehicle.
"New recreational vehicle" means a recreational vehicle that has not been previously sold to any person except a distributor or wholesaler or recreational vehicle dealer for resale.
16.
Person.
"Person" means a natural person, corporation, partnership, trust or other entity. In the case of an entity, "person" includes any other entity in which it has a majority interest or effectively controls, as well as the individual officers, directors and other persons in active control of the activities of each such entity.
16-A.
Proprietary part.
"Proprietary part" means a part manufactured by or for the manufacturer and sold exclusively by the manufacturer.
17.
Recreational vehicle dealer.
"Recreational vehicle dealer" means any person who sells or solicits or advertises the sale of new recreational vehicles. "Recreational vehicle dealer" does not include receivers, trustees, administrators, executors, guardians or other persons appointed by or acting under judgment, decree or order of any court or public officers while performing their duties as those officers.
18.
Recreational vehicle.
18-A.
Recreational vehicle.
"Recreational vehicle" means a vehicle that is either self-propelled or towed by a consumer-owned tow vehicle, is primarily designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, complies with all applicable federal vehicle regulations and does not require special highway movement permits to legally use the highways. "Recreational vehicle" includes motor homes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers and folding camping trailers.
19.
Sale.
"Sale" means the issuance, transfer, agreement for transfer, exchange, pledge, hypothecation or mortgage in any form, whether by transfer in trust or otherwise, of any recreational vehicle or interest in a recreational vehicle or of any dealer agreement related to a recreational vehicle and any option, subscription or other contract, or solicitation looking to a sale, or any offer or attempt to sell in any form, whether spoken or written. A gift or delivery of any recreational vehicle with or as a bonus on account of the sale of anything is considered a sale of that recreational vehicle.
19-A.
Supplier.
"Supplier" means a person, firm, corporation or business entity that engages in the manufacture of recreational vehicle parts, accessories or components.
20.
Trailer.
"Trailer" means a vehicle without motive power and mounted on wheels, designed to carry persons or property and to be drawn by a motor vehicle and not operated on tracks.
20-A.
Transient customer.
"Transient customer" means a customer who is temporarily traveling through an area of sales responsibility.
21.
Travel trailer.
"Travel trailer" means a vehicle mounted on wheels designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, of such size or weight as not to require special highway movement permits when towed by a motor vehicle.
22.
Truck camper.
"Truck camper" means a portable unit constructed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, travel or camping use, consisting of a roof, floor and sides, designed to be loaded onto and unloaded from the bed of a truck.
23.
Warrantor.
"Warrantor" means a person, firm, corporation or business entity, including a manufacturer or supplier, that provides a written warranty to the customer in connection with a new recreational vehicle or parts, accessories or components of a new recreational vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, "written warranty" does not include service contracts, mechanical or other insurance or extended warranties sold for separate consideration by a dealer or other person not controlled by a manufacturer.

Legislative History

PL 1997, c. 427, §2 (NEW). PL 2009, c. 562, §§3-16 (AMD). RR 2009, c. 2, §§15, 16 (COR). PL 2021, c. 676, Pt. A, §18 (AMD). RR 2023, c. 2, Pt. C, §28 (COR).