Surety Bond News

In the state of New Jersey, a new law was enacted regarding vehicle sales. The new law, titled SB 521, decreases the required surety bond amount to perform an off-site sale of recreational vehicles (RVs) from $500,000 to $10,000. SB 521 did not alter the bond amount required for an off-site motor vehicle sale, but it would have trimmed down the bond amount to $10,000 for such a sale. The new law states that if the surety bond is cancelled before the conclusion of the off-site sale for both motor vehicles and RVs, the dealer must acquire and file a substitute surety bond without delay with the Chief Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission. SB 521 became active upon enactment.

In the state of New Hampshire a new law was put in place. The new law, HB 1351, states that off-highway recreational vehicle (OHRV) and snowmobile registration agents have the option of posting a surety bond when certain breaches of the agreement between the agent and the Fish and Game Department have been perpetrated. The surety bond can be obtained in lieu of the agreement being terminated when the infringement is related to the handling of state funds. The surety bond has to be issued by a state licensed surety and must guarantee the payment of all state funds collected accordingly of agent registrations issued for the state; a surety bond option already exists under current law for license agents who issue licenses, tags, stamps, permits for hunting/fishing.

There is a new law recreational vehicle dealers must abide by in the state of Pennsylvania. The law is named SB 1019, which requires recreational vehicle dealers to post a $30,000 license bond that must be issued by a surety company licensed in the Commonwealth. The required bond is conditioned on cooperation with all of the Commonwealth’s laws and policies. The bond will also operate as security for claims that an agency of the Commonwealth files for any money due such as unpaid taxes, licenses, fees, payment of a criminal punishment/fine after conviction, payment of a civil penalty or monetary amount after the entry of judgment.