The Lawrence Licensing Board on Feb. 19 tabled MT Motorsports’ application for a wholesale motor-vehicle dealer license after an extended hearing in which commissioners and the applicant disputed whether a vehicle sale had been made directly to a private buyer.

The applicant, who identified himself in the hearing as representing MT Motorsports, told the board he believed the vehicle at issue was sold and later repaired and that he had taken responsibility for repairs. Commissioners, led by Commissioner Laird, said the record from a prior appearance reflected the applicant agreed he had sold the vehicle directly to the buyer and therefore may be in violation of a wholesale-only license restriction. Laird said the board needs a receipt showing a sale to another dealer (referred to in the hearing alternately as Belmore/Belmont Auto Center) to confirm the transaction did not involve a direct sale to an individual.

The board also heard that the buyer reported post-sale mechanical problems and that the buyer’s mechanic questioned whether MT Motorsports would assume repair responsibility. The applicant maintained he had repaired the vehicle, produced a receipt for repair work during the hearing, and said the car had passed inspection when purchased; the buyer has reported the vehicle’s warning light returned shortly after the repair.

Commissioner Laird and colleagues emphasized licensing rules for wholesale dealers: a wholesale dealer may not sell directly to individual retail customers. The board directed MT Motorsports to provide documentation showing that the vehicle was sold to another licensed dealer and asked the applicant and the other dealer to appear or provide records for the March 5 meeting. Until the board receives that verification, the wholesale-license application cannot be approved.

The board made a formal motion to table the MT Motorsports matter to March 5; recorded votes were in favor and the motion passed.

The board instructed licensing staff to verify any receipts and to confirm inspection-sticker or inspection records with the buyer’s mechanic before reconsidering the license.

The applicant was told that failure to produce the requested documentation would likely preclude approval at the next meeting.