The General Assembly gets rolling as Youngkin lays out legislative priorities Session 2022, Issue 2 January 24, 2022 The 2022 60-day session has begun and newly-elected Governor Glenn Youngkin kicked off the week by addressing a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly last Monday afternoon. Gov. Youngkin laid out his legislative priorities and
Capitol Briefs 2021 | Issue 5
EV Package Rolls on in Special Session Session 2021, Issue 5 February 15, 2021 Last week, the General Assembly technically ended its 2021 Session and immediately began a special session called by Gov. Ralph Northam to provide the extra time normally allotted for a “short” session. Legislative business moved forward as remaining bills were simply
Capitol Briefs 2021 | Issue 4
Dealer-Backed Democratic Priorities Driving Through General Assembly House passes bills pushing for EV rebate program, ZEV mandates and test drive regs Session 2021, Issue 4 February 8, 2021 As we have reported in past updates, much has changed about the operation of the General Assembly during these unique times. In this abbreviated session, both chambers
Capitol Briefs 2021 | Issue 3
All-In for EVs in VA. Session 2021, Issue 3 February 1, 2021 During the week of January 25 (the third week of session), our attention turned to legislation concerning electric vehicles (EVs). We understand this is future of our industry and we support this innovation. As Democrats on the state and national level are focusing
Virginia Enacts Final Permanent Standard for COVID-19 Operations
January 28, 2021 Since last summer, dealerships across the Commonwealth have been operating under the Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 (the “Temporary Standard”), which made Virginia the first state to implement workplace safety and health standards for COVID-19. Earlier this month, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s (DOLI) Safety and Health Codes Board approved
Protect your dealership’s ability to issue tags
By Michael G. Charapp Charapp & Weiss LLP As sales processes evolve, more functions once the responsibility of others are being done by dealerships. One example is issuing license plates. For some time, Virginia has allowed dealers to maintain a supply of temporary tags and permanent tags they can issue to vehicle buyers. The ability
Twenty Two for ’22
January 2022 By Michael G. Charapp Charapp & Weiss LLP At the end of our article last year on Twenty One issues for ’21, we wished for motor vehicle dealers a 2021 as free from unpleasant surprises as possible. What we got was a year that was Dickensian — one best described by the opening
Mythbusters — Effect of a disclaimer
February 2022 By Michael G. Charapp Charapp & Weiss LLP Dealers often face a dilemma when advertising prices of vehicles. Competitors unlawfully advertise at prices at which they will not deliver vehicles, which in today’s market are scarce. Dealer personnel feel they must meet or beat that price, and they advertise at a price at
It is Time to Review Your Employment Arbitration Agreements
March 2022 By Michael G. Charapp Charapp & Weiss LLP Whether to use a pre-dispute arbitration agreement for employment issues is a choice for each dealer to make. If you have chosen to use such an agreement, it is time to review it. In October 2018, we wrote an article titled The #MeToo Movement and
Dealer Group settles with FTC for $10 million
April 2022 By Michael G. Charapp Charapp & Weiss LLP A multi-state franchised dealer group recently settled a federal lawsuit with the FTC and the state of Illinois for $10 million. The FTC and Illinois charged that the group sold vehicles using unfair and deceptive practices. The most serious charges, however, involved alleged improper sales