Chapter 218

218.05(4)(a)2. 2. The applicant has business experience qualifying the applicant to competently conduct, operate, own, or become associated with a community currency exchange.

218.05(4)(a)3. 3. The applicant has a good business reputation and is worthy of a license.

218.05(4)(b) (b) If the division finds that the conditions under par. (a) 1. to 3. are not met, the division shall not issue the license and shall notify the applicant of the denial, retaining the investigation fee to cover the cost of investigating the applicant. The division shall approve or deny every application within 30 days from the filing thereof. No application shall be denied unless the applicant has had notice of a hearing on the application and an opportunity to be heard thereon. If the application is denied, the division shall, within 20 days thereafter, prepare and keep on file with the division a written order of denial which shall contain the division’s findings with respect thereto and the reasons supporting the denial. The division shall mail a copy of the order of denial to the applicant at the address set forth in the application, within 5 days after the filing of the order.

218.05(4)(c) (c) In addition to the grounds for denial of a license under par. (a), the division shall deny an application for a license under this section if any of the following applies:

218.05(4)(c)1. 1. The applicant fails to provide any information required under sub. (3) (am) 1.

218.05(4)(c)2. 2. The department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(4)(c)2m. 2m. The department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the applicant is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(4)(c)3. 3. The applicant is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent payments is entitled to a notice and hearing under s. 49.857 but is not entitled to any notice or hearing under par. (b).

218.05(5) (5) Forbidden to act as depository. No community currency exchange shall be permitted to accept money or evidences of money as a deposit to be returned to the depositor or upon the depositor’s order; and no community currency exchange shall be permitted to act as bailee or agent for persons, to hold money or evidences thereof or the proceeds therefrom for the use and benefit of the owners thereof and deliver such money or proceeds of evidence of money upon request or direction of such owner.

218.05(6) (6) Insurance. Before any license is issued to a community currency exchange or renewed for a community currency exchange, the applicant shall file with, and have approved by, the division a policy or policies of insurance, which shall be issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state and shall insure the applicant against loss by burglary, larceny, robbery, forgery or embezzlement in a principal sum, and with such deductibles, as determined by the division.

218.05(8) (8) Other business forbidden. A community currency exchange shall not be conducted as a unit of another business. It must be an entity, financed and conducted as a separate business unit. This shall not prevent a community currency exchange from leasing a part of the premises of another business for the conduct of this business on the same premises; provided, that no community currency exchange shall be conducted on the same premises with a business whose chief source of revenue is derived from the sale of alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises. This subsection shall not apply when such other business is subject to any statute which provides for supervision and examination by the division.

218.05(9) (9) Tokens. No community currency exchange shall issue tokens to be used in lieu of money for the purchase of goods or services from any enterprise.

218.05(10) (10) Licenses; posting; assignment; number; change of location.

218.05(10)(a) (a) The license shall state the name of the licensee and the address at which the business is to be conducted. The license shall not be transferable or assignable.

218.05(10)(b) (b) No more than one place of business shall be maintained under the same license, but the division may issue more than one license to the same licensee upon the compliance with the provisions of this section governing an original issuance of a license, for each new license.

218.05(10)(c) (c) Whenever a licensee shall wish to change the licensee’s place of business, the licensee shall give written notice thereof to the division in a form and manner acceptable to the division. If so directed by the division, the licensee shall provide any notice required under this subsection to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry as provided in s. 224.35.

218.05(11) (11) License expiration; renewal; reinstatement. A license expires annually on December 31 of the calendar year in which the initial license term began, unless the initial license date is between November 1 and December 31, in which instance the initial license term shall run through December 31 of the following year. The annual license fee is $300 and shall be paid to the division in a form and manner acceptable to the division, together with the annual bond and insurance policy or policies in the same amount and of the same character as required by subs. (3) (c) and (6). Licenses may be renewed and reinstated as provided in s. 224.35 (7). The division may not renew a license under this section if any of the following applies:

218.05(11)(a) (a) The renewal applicant fails to provide any information required under sub. (3) (am) 1.

218.05(11)(b) (b) The department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the renewal applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. An applicant whose application is not renewed under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(11)(bm) (bm) The department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the renewal applicant is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. An applicant whose application is not renewed under this paragraph for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(11)(c) (c) The renewal applicant is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. An applicant whose application is denied under this subsection for delinquent payments or failure to comply with a subpoena or warrant is entitled to a notice and hearing only as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857 and is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(12) (12) Revocation; restriction and suspension; reporting violations.

218.05(12)(a) (a) The division may, upon 10 days’ notice to the licensee by mail directed to the licensee at the address set forth in the license, stating the contemplated action and in general the grounds therefor, and upon reasonable opportunity to be heard prior to such action, revoke any license issued hereunder if the division shall find that:

218.05(12)(a)1. 1. The licensee has failed to maintain in effect the required bond or insurance policy or policies or to comply with any order, decision or finding of the division made pursuant to this section.

218.05(12)(a)2. 2. The licensee has violated any provision of this section or any regulation or direction made by the division under this section.

218.05(12)(a)3. 3. Any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for such license, would have warranted the division in refusing the issuance of the license.

218.05(12)(a)4. 4. The licensee made a material misstatement, or knowingly omitted a material fact, in an application for a license or in information furnished to the division or the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry.

218.05(12)(am) (am) The division shall restrict or suspend any license issued under this section if the licensee is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. A licensee whose license is restricted or suspended under this paragraph is entitled to a notice and hearing only as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857 and is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(12)(ar) (ar) The division shall revoke a license under this section if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(12)(at) (at) The division shall revoke a license under this section if the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the licensee is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

218.05(12)(b) (b) The division may revoke only the particular license with respect to which grounds for revocation may occur or exist, or if the division shall find that such grounds for revocation are of general application to all offices or to more than one office operated by such licensee, the division may revoke all of the licenses issued to such licensee or such number of licenses to which such grounds apply. A revocation under pars. (am) to (at) applies to all of the licenses issued to the licensee.

218.05(12)(c) (c) A licensee may surrender any license by delivering to the division written notice that the licensee surrenders such license, but such surrender shall not affect such licensee’s civil or criminal liability for acts committed prior to such surrender, or affect the licensee’s bond, or entitle such licensee to a return of any part of the annual license fee.

218.05(12)(d) (d) Every license issued hereunder shall remain in force until the same has been surrendered or revoked in accordance with this section, but the division may on the division’s own motion issue new licenses to a licensee whose license or licenses shall have been revoked if no fact or condition then exists which clearly would have warranted the division in refusing originally the issuance of such license under this section.

218.05(12)(e) (e) Except as provided under pars. (am) to (at), no license shall be revoked until the licensee has had notice of a hearing thereon and an opportunity to be heard. When any license is so revoked, the division shall within 20 days thereafter, prepare and keep on file with the division, a written order or decision of revocation which shall contain the division’s findings with respect thereto and the reasons supporting the revocation and shall send by mail a copy thereof to the licensee at the address set forth in the license within 5 days after the filing with the division of such order, finding or decision.

218.05(12)(f) (f) The division may report any enforcement action, any violation of this section or of an administrative rule or order, or other relevant information to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. Except as provided in s. 224.35 (4) (b) and (c), these reports to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry shall be confidential and are not subject to public copying or inspection under s. 19.35 (1).

218.05(14) (14) Annual report; records; examination.

218.05(14)(a) (a) A licensee shall make an annual report and submit financial statements as provided in s. 224.35 (8).

218.05(14)(b) (b)

218.05(14)(b)1. 1. A licensee shall keep books, accounts and records to enable the division to determine if the licensee is complying with this section and with rules promulgated by and orders issued by the division.

218.05(14)(b)2. 2. A licensee shall keep within this state the books, accounts and records required by this paragraph at the licensee’s place of business or a place readily accessible to the division.

218.05(14)(c) (c)

218.05(14)(c)1. 1. The division may investigate the business and examine the books, accounts and records of a licensee at any time. For that purpose, the division shall have free access to the offices and places of business and to the books, accounts and records of a licensee. The division may examine any person under oath or affirmation whose testimony the division requires relative to the licensee. An employee of the division may administer an oath or affirmation to a person called as a witness. An employee of the division may conduct the examination.

218.05(14)(c)2. 2. The division shall determine the cost of an examination. A licensee shall pay the cost of an examination within 30 days after the division demands payment.

218.05(15) (15) Penalty. A person who violates this section may be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

218.05 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1979 c. 102; 1981 c. 79 s. 17; 1989 a. 336; 1991 a. 221, 316; 1993 a. 112; 1995 a. 27, 225; 1997 a. 27, 35, 191, 237; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2005 a. 212; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 233; 2013 a. 36; 2021 a. 239; 2023 a. 267.

subch. VI of ch. 218 SUBCHAPTER VI

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE DEALERS

218.10 218.10 Definitions. In this subchapter:

218.10(1b) (1b) “Area of sales responsibility” means the geographical area agreed to by the dealer and the manufacturer or distributor in a dealer agreement within which the dealer has the exclusive right to display or sell the manufacturer’s new recreational vehicles of a particular line-make.

218.10(1c) (1c) “Camping trailer” means a vehicle with a collapsible or folding structure designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use and to be towed upon a highway by a motor vehicle.

218.10(1d) (1d) “Component manufacturer” means a person, firm, corporation, or business entity that engages in the manufacturing of components, accessories, or parts used in manufacturing recreational vehicles.

218.10(1g) (1g) “Dealer”, unless the context requires otherwise, means a person who, for a commission or other thing of value, sells, exchanges, buys or rents, or offers or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in a recreational vehicle or who is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling recreational vehicles, whether or not the recreational vehicles are owned by the person, but does not include:

218.10(1g)(a) (a) A receiver, trustee, personal representative, guardian, or other person appointed by or acting under the judgment or order of any court.

218.10(1g)(b) (b) Any public officer while performing that officer’s official duty.

218.10(1g)(c) (c) Any employee of a person enumerated in par. (a) or (b).

218.10(1g)(d) (d) Any lender as defined in s. 421.301 (22).

218.10(1g)(e) (e) A person transferring a recreational vehicle registered in that person’s name and used for that person’s personal, family or household purposes, if the transfer is an occasional sale and is not part of the business of the transferor.

218.10(1i) (1i) “Dealer agreement” means a written agreement or contract entered into by a dealer and a manufacturer or distributor that fixes the rights and responsibilities of the parties and pursuant to which the dealer sells new recreational vehicles.

218.10(1m) (1m) “Department” means the department of transportation, unless the context requires otherwise.

218.10(1n) (1n) “Distributor” means a resident or nonresident who, in whole or in part, sells or distributes new recreational vehicles to recreational vehicle dealers or who maintains distributor representatives.

218.10(1o) (1o) “Factory campaign” means an effort on the part of a warrantor to contact recreational vehicle owners or dealers in order to address a part or equipment issue.

218.10(1p) (1p) “Family member” means an individual’s spouse or an individual’s child, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, or nephew or the spouse of any of these.

218.10(1q) (1q) “Fifth-wheel recreational vehicle” means a recreational vehicle that is mounted on wheels, that is of a size and weight such that a special highway movement permit is not required, and that is designed to be towed by a motor vehicle utilizing a kingpin and 5th wheel coupling device mounted above or forward of the rear axle of the tow vehicle.

218.10(1r) (1r) “License period” means the period during which a license issued under s. 218.11 or 218.12 is effective, as established by the department under s. 218.11 (2) (b) 1. or 218.12 (2) (b) 1.

218.10(1t) (1t) “Line-make” means a specific series of recreational vehicle products, the sale of which may be authorized by a dealer agreement, that satisfies all of the following:

218.10(1t)(a) (a) Is targeted to a particular market segment, as determined by the decor, features, equipment, size, weight, and price range.

218.10(1t)(b) (b) Has lengths and interior floor plans that distinguish the series of recreational vehicle products from other series with substantially the same decor, features, equipment, weight, and price.

218.10(1t)(c) (c) Belongs to a single, distinct classification of recreational vehicle product type having a substantial degree of commonality in the construction of the chassis, frame, and body.

218.10(1x) (1x) “Manufacturer” means any person within or without this state who manufactures or assembles recreational vehicles for sale in this state.

218.10(2) (2) “Model” is a series of recreational vehicle products identified by a common series trade name or trademark that is a subset of a line-make.

218.10(7) (7) “New recreational vehicle” means a recreational vehicle which has never been occupied, used or sold for personal or business use.

218.10(7m) (7m) “Park model recreational vehicle” means a recreational vehicle that is all of the following:

218.10(7m)(a) (a) Designed and marketed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.

218.10(7m)(b) (b) Not permanently affixed to real property for use as a permanent dwelling.

218.10(7m)(c) (c) Built on a single chassis mounted on wheels with a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet in the setup mode.

218.10(7m)(d) (d) Certified by the manufacturer as complying with the ANSI A119.5 Park Model Recreational Vehicle Standard.

218.10(7w) (7w) “Proprietary part” means any part manufactured by or for and sold exclusively by the manufacturer.

218.10(8m) (8m) “Recreational vehicle” means a vehicle that is designed to be towed upon a highway by a motor vehicle, that is equipped and used, or intended to be used, primarily for temporary or recreational human habitation, and that does not exceed 46 feet in length. “Recreational vehicle” includes a camping trailer, 5th-wheel recreational vehicle, park model recreational vehicle, and travel trailer.

218.10(8t) (8t) “Salesperson”, unless the context requires otherwise, means any person who is employed by a manufacturer or dealer to sell or lease recreational vehicles.

218.10(8u) (8u) “Transient customer” means a customer who is temporarily traveling through a dealer’s area of sales responsibility.

218.10(8v) (8v) “Travel trailer” means a vehicle that is mounted on wheels, that is designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, and that is of a size or weight that a special highway movement permit is not required when towed by a motor vehicle.

218.10(9) (9) “Used recreational vehicle” means a recreational vehicle which has previously been occupied, used or sold for personal or business use.

218.10(10) (10) “Warrantor” means a person, firm, corporation, or business entity that gives a warranty in connection with a new recreational vehicle or parts, accessories, or components of a new recreational vehicle.

218.10(11) (11) “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.

218.10 History History: 1973 c. 116, 132; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 269, 316; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 102; 2007 a. 11; 2023 a. 164.

218.11 218.11 Recreational vehicle dealers, manufacturers, and distributors regulated.

218.11(1) (1) No person may engage in the business of selling recreational vehicles to a consumer or to the retail market in this state unless first licensed to do so by the department.

218.11(2) (2) 

218.11(2)(a) (a) Application for license and renewal license shall be made to the licensor on forms prescribed and furnished by the licensor, accompanied by the license fee required under par. (c) or (d).