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CATA News

  • Friday, May 13, 2022 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    According to an Automotive News article, U.S. dealerships facing a significant tax burden this year triggered by global supply chain disruptions and subsequent inventory shortages related to COVID-19 could be one step closer to getting relief.

    Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown would provide relief to dealerships that use the "last in, first out" inventory accounting method and have struggled to maintain inventory levels because of the global semiconductor shortage. In addition, the bill would provide a statutory determination that the requirements for a qualified liquidation under Section 473 of the Internal Revenue Code have been satisfied for new-vehicle dealers that have experienced a reduction of new vehicles held in LIFO inventory. The relief would give dealers up to three years to restore their inventories to more normal levels.

    "Auto dealers continue to face dramatic and unprecedented inventory shortages as a result of pandemic-related foreign supply chain disruptions and, without support, recovery could be long and hard for Ohio's affected local businesses, employees and their customers," Brown said in a statement. "This legislation will grant much-needed tax relief to auto dealers facing unique supply chain challenges."

    The National Automobile Dealers Association is the driving force behind this effort. The CATA urges its members to contact their representatives to become co-sponsors of the bill, HR7382/S.4105, the Supply Chain Relief Act.

    "The bill would provide needed short-term relief to help the auto industry recover from severe inventory shortfalls due to the pandemic and supply chain and semiconductor shortages," NADA CEO Mike Stanton said in a statement. "NADA strongly supports this legislation to reaffirm existing federal law related to a 'major foreign trade interruption' and urges Congress to pass it as soon as possible."
  • Friday, April 29, 2022 3:56 PM | Anonymous
    The CATA received a call from a dealer member who reported a new fraud issue. This dealer received four separate calls from police that their dealer license plates were involved in various crimes. The dealer was able to prove that the plates in question were locked in a safe in their dealership at the dates and times of the alleged crimes and, therefore, were able to successfully contest the charges and fines.

    Here are a couple of important reminders from the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Taskforce (ISATT):
    • Dealerships should always keep records on who has their dealer plates and when, so when a police department inquires, they can confidently account for the plate in question.  
    • Once a calendar year is over and that year’s plates are expired, the old plates need to be destroyed and must be verified that they are in fact destroyed.  
    Be sure to report any crime to ISATT or contact them with any questions.

    ISATT Contact Information:
    708-740-0425
    isatt@ilsos.gov


  • Friday, April 29, 2022 3:55 PM | Anonymous
    Let’s get back into the "swing" of things! The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) is excited to bring back its member golf outing this summer. Please join the CATA for a fun-filled day on the course, Tuesday, June 14, at Cog Hill in Lemont.

    SCHEDULE OF EVENTS*
    • 9:30 a.m. – Registration (near outdoor Pavilion)
    • 10-11 a.m. – Coffee & Networking Reception (Pavilion)
    • 11 a.m. – Lunch and CATA Annual Meeting (Pavilion)
    • 12:30 p.m. – Shotgun
    • Post-Golf Happy Hour
    *Please make note of the new format.
     
    Not a golfer? No problem. Join us for lunch and the annual meeting in the Pavilion and network with CATA members.
     
    RATES
    • CATA Dealer Member Rate: $95 per person
    • CATA Allied Member Rate: $125* per person (*unless the allied member hosts a CATA member dealer; they will then receive the $30 credit post-event)
    • Lunch-only ticket: $40 per person
    TO RSVP/Make a Payment
    1. To register, please click here.
    2. To make your payment, please mail a check for your total to the Chicago Automobile Trade Association at 18W200 Butterfield Road, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 (attn: Roxanne Sammarco). Or, if paying via credit card, call Roxanne at 630-424-6060.
    Questions/Sponsorship Information
    It's been "FORE"ever since we hosted an all-member event. We hope to see you soon!
     


  • Friday, April 29, 2022 3:55 PM | Anonymous
    In today’s selling climate, vehicles are often sold over MSRP with "required" markup or additional services like paint protectant and interior protection. However, Section 475.310 of the Illinois Administrative Rules on Motor Vehicle Advertising provides that purchasers shall be able to purchase all vehicles described in an advertisement (or on a website) at the advertised price. Accordingly, if a vehicle is listed for sale at MSRP on a dealer website, but is sold at a higher price, there is an advertising rules violation. When selling over MSRP, the simplest way to comply with Section 475.310 might be to show the MSRP on the dealer website, and then add a caption below the MSRP entitled "Market Adjustment," stating the amount over MSRP that the dealer is charging for the vehicle. Dealers also have the option of displaying the MSRP with a strikethrough additionally listing "call for price."


  • Friday, April 29, 2022 3:52 PM | Anonymous
    In light of the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, CATA dealerships are facing an increasing number of infections among dealership employees. As the virus has changed and mutates and the number of vaccinated individuals has increased, the Illinois Department of Health has revised COVID-19 workplace rules. Here are some key takeaways from those changes:
    • If you have an employee test positive for the virus by means of an at- home test, that employee should follow up with a viral test such as a PCR at a doctor’s office or testing facility. Once confirmed, the employee should stay home and quarantine for a minimum five-day period after the positive result.  
    • If the employee is symptom free after five days, they can return to work and resume normal activity. A mask is recommended for an additional five-day period once back at work.
    • Any employee that is a close contact, meaning someone exposed to someone who has received a positive result and that is fully vaccinated, does not need to quarantine but should monitor themselves for symptoms. If symptoms manifest themselves the employee should not attend work and should go and get a viral test to find out if they are positive for the virus.
    • That employee should observe the six-foot distance rule whenever possible. If they cannot, they should consider wearing a tight-fitting mask which covers the nose and mouth at all times for a period of five days from the last contact with the positive employee.
    • If an employee is considered a close contact and they are not fully vaccinated, that employee should stay home for a period of five days and get a viral PCR test at a doctor’s office or testing facility.
    • If that person tests positive, the rules for positive cases apply, which are five days at home but he or she can return to work after the five days and no longer having symptoms.
    You can find more information from the Illinois Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control at the following links:


  • Friday, April 29, 2022 3:51 PM | Anonymous
    Effective January 1, 2022, the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/3-113(e), was amended to provide that the Secretary of State is authorized to issue a certificate of title in the name of the dealership to a licensed dealer under Chapter 5 for $20 if the surrendered certificate of title has no space to assign the certificate of title again. If a dealer paid more than $20 for such a title, it may, within six months of the date of payment, file an Illinois Secretary of State form entitled "Consideration for Refund," which can be found on the SOS website at http://www.ilsos.gov, along with a copy of the original application for vehicle title, seeking a refund of any amount paid more than the $20 fee. The explanation for the requested refund should be "excess title fees paid." The refund request can be faxed (217-557-4552) or sent priority mail to Office of the Secretary of State, Accounting Revenue Department, Refund Section, 222 Howlett Building, Springfield, Illinois 62756.

    To save time, money and follow-up CATA Exclusive ERT Provider Vitu recommends applying for Dealer Title Only applications through
    cyberdriveillinois.com
    . Selecting Electronic Registration and Titling and selecting Title Only, Dealer for Resale checkbox will appear.  This will produce the correct application showing the $20 Dealer Title Only fee.  The dealer also has the ability to add the Expedited Title Fee of $30 to be able to obtain a title more quickly.

    Link to Consideration for Refund form:
    https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/ar9.pdf
     


  • Friday, April 15, 2022 3:57 PM | Anonymous
     

    This week’s vandalism at three dealerships in Schaumburg is a good reminder for dealers to share the details of the crimes they are experiencing so the CATA can keep other dealers informed about the latest tactics from thieves and other criminals.  "Obviously, we shouldn’t the first call when you are dealing with this type of crime, but please let us know within the first 24 hours and we’ll share details with other dealers so they can be prepared," says CATA President, Dave Sloan.

    Karianne Thomas, Director of Security at Ziegler Automotive says such communication is key to bringing this this crime wave to an end.  "The more resistance we are able to mount, the sooner the bad guys will stop targeting dealerships," she said.  Thomas spent 30 years in law enforcement before she was hired by Ziegler last year.

    Dealers who are crime victims should report details to the CATA by email or phone as soon as possible.  Email Dave Sloan at dsloan@Drivechicago.com or call (430) 495-2282.

     


  • Friday, April 15, 2022 3:56 PM | Anonymous
     

    The Federal Trade Commission's updated Safeguards Rule took effect last month. Dealerships and other financial institutions will need to comply with its major provisions by Dec. 9. The new rule addresses topics similar to the old version, but it removes some of the ambiguity of the original.

    Under the amended Safeguards Rule, which is mandated by Congress under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, dealerships will be expected to:

    • Appoint a "qualified individual" to oversee, implement and enforce the information security program and submit an annual written report to the board of directors or governing body.
    • Prepare a written risk assessment that can be used to evaluate and identify security risks periodically.
    • Encrypt all customer information, both at rest and in transit over external networks.*
    • Require multifactor authentication "whenever any individual — employee, customer or otherwise — accesses an information system."*
    • Implement policies and procedures for monitoring and logging the activity of authorized users and detecting unauthorized access to, use of or tampering with customer data by those users.
    • Perform annual penetration tests and biannual vulnerability assessments.
    • Ensure personnel are able to enact the information security program by providing security awareness training and other training programs that are updated as necessary.
    • Oversee and monitor service providers, and assess those providers after onboarding.
    • Adopt a written incident response plan.

    For more information visit this article on Automotive News: https://www.autonews.com/finance-insurance/dealerships-other-financial-institutions-must-reach-full-compliance-ftc.

     


  • Friday, April 15, 2022 3:56 PM | Anonymous
     

    The Cook County Sheriff's office has developed a consent form for dealers and vehicle buyers that will allow law enforcement to access data location information for the described vehicle from the relevant car company if the car has been unlawfully taken and such information is available. Swift access to such information can help law enforcement recover the vehicle.

    The consent form and safety tips are available on the Sheriff’s Office website. Click here for the form: https://www.cookcountysheriff.org/departments/c-c-s-p-d/carjacking/.
     


  • Friday, April 15, 2022 3:56 PM | Anonymous
     

    Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced legislation requiring auto manufacturers to create a 24/7 recovery hotline to help law enforcement quickly track stolen vehicles. The inability for law enforcement to access tracking information in real time after a carjacking makes it difficult to catch offenders and prevent the vehicle from being used in additional crimes. Currently, each auto manufacturer has their own process for obtaining such existing information, often causing unnecessary delays. Under the legislation, law enforcement can obtain this information, if the owner consents, when a vehicle has been carjacked or is being used in the commission of other violent crimes.

    For more information, please visit https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2022/04/06/sheriff-dart-announces-anti-carjacking-legislation/.

     

    The consent form and safety tips are available on the Sheriff’s Office website. Click here for the form: https://www.cookcountysheriff.org/departments/c-c-s-p-d/carjacking/.

     


Chicago Automobile Trade Association
18W200 Butterfield Rd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 
(630) 495-2282

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