Notice of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal.
Before the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of a franchise, the manufacturer shall give written notification to both the department and the dealer. The notice must be by certified mail or personally delivered to the new motorsports vehicle dealer and must state the intention to terminate, cancel, or not renew the franchise, the reasons for the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, and the effective date of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal. The notice must be given:
(1) Not less than ninety days, which runs concurrently with the ninety-day period provided in RCW 46.93.060(1)(c), before the effective date of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal;
(2) Not less than fifteen days before the effective date of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal with respect to any of the following that constitute good cause for termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal:
(a) Insolvency of the dealer or the filing of any petition by or against the dealer under bankruptcy or receivership law;
(b) Failure of the dealer to conduct sales and service operations during customary business hours for seven consecutive business days, except for acts of God or circumstances beyond the direct control of the dealer;
(c) Conviction of the dealer, or principal operator of the dealership, of a felony punishable by imprisonment; or
(d) Suspension or revocation of a license that the dealer is required to have to operate the dealership where the suspension or revocation is for a period in excess of thirty days;
(3) Not less than one hundred eighty days before the effective date of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, where the manufacturer intends to discontinue sale and distribution of the new motorsports vehicle line.
[ 2003 c 354 s 7.]