SECTION 217.166. Dealer Deputies

(a) A county tax assessor-collector, with the approval of the commissioners court of the county, may deputize a motor vehicle dealer to act as a dealer deputy to provide motor vehicle titling and registration services in the same manner and with the same authority as though done in the office of the county tax assessor-collector, except as limited by this section.

(b) A dealer deputy must hold a valid general distinguishing number (GDN) under Transportation Code, Chapter 503, Subchapter B, and may act as a dealer deputy only for a type of motor vehicle for which the dealer holds a GDN. A dealer may not continue to act as a dealer deputy if the GDN is cancelled or suspended.

(c) A county tax assessor-collector may impose reasonable obligations or requirements upon a dealer deputy in addition to those set forth in this section. The county tax assessor-collector may, at the time of deputation or upon renewal of deputation, impose specified restrictions or limitations on a dealer deputy's authority to provide certain titling or registration services.

(d) Upon the transfer of ownership of motor vehicles purchased, sold or exchanged by the dealer deputy, the dealer deputy may process titling transactions in the same manner and with the same authority as though done in the office of the county tax assessor-collector. The dealer deputy may not otherwise provide titling services to the general public.

(e) Upon the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle purchased, sold or exchanged by the dealer deputy, the dealer deputy may process initial registration transactions in the same manner and with the same authority as though done in the office of the county tax assessor-collector. The dealer deputy may not otherwise offer initial registration services to the general public.

(f) The county tax assessor-collector may authorize a dealer deputy to provide motor vehicle registration renewal services. A dealer deputy offering registration renewal services must offer such services to the general public, and must accept and process any proper application for registration renewal that the county tax assessor-collector would accept and process.

(g) To be eligible to serve as a dealer deputy, a person must be trained to perform motor vehicle titling and registration services, as approved by the county tax assessor-collector, or otherwise be deemed competent by the county tax assessor-collector to perform such services.

(h) To be eligible to serve as a dealer deputy, a person must post a bond payable to the county tax assessor-collector consistent with §217.167 of this title (relating to Bonding Requirements) with the bond conditioned on the person's proper accounting and remittance of the fees the person collects.

(i) A person applying to be a dealer deputy must complete the application process as specified by the county tax assessor-collector. The application process may include satisfaction of any bonding requirements and completion of any additional required documentation or training of the deputy before the processing of any title or registration transactions may occur.

(j) If a dealer deputy offers registration renewal services to the general public, the deputy must provide the physical address at which services will be offered, the mailing address, the phone number, and the hours of service. This information may be published on the department's website and may be published by the county if the county publishes a list of deputy locations.

(k) A dealer deputy shall keep a separate accounting of the fees collected and remitted to the county, and a record of daily receipts.

(l) A dealer deputy may charge or retain fees consistent with the provisions of §217.168 of this title (relating to Deputy Fee Amounts).

(m) This section does not prevent a county tax assessor-collector from deputizing a dealer as a full service deputy under §217.163 of this title (relating to Full Service Deputies) or a limited service deputy under §217.164 of this title (relating to Limited Service Deputies) instead of a dealer deputy under this section.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.166 adopted to be effective August 8, 2016, 41 TexReg 5787