Washington State
House of Representatives
 BILL
ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

HB 1371

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Addressing traffic infractions involving rental vehicles.

Sponsors: Representative Appleton.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Limits the circumstances where a rental car business can avoid liability for an infraction by stating that it is unable to determine who was driving or renting a vehicle when an infraction occurred to vehicle thefts.
  • Establishes a procedure under which a rental car business may address private parking infractions that occurred while a vehicle was rented.

Hearing Date: 2/8/07

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

When liability for a traffic infraction based on the identity of the vehicle is determined to reside in a vehicle registered to a car rental company, current law creates a 30-day window from the time the car rental company is informed of the traffic infraction. Within this time frame, the car rental company may either provide, under oath, the name and address of the person driving the vehicle or state, under oath, that they are unable to determine who was driving or renting the vehicle at the time the infraction occurred.

Mailing this statement to the issuing law enforcement agency within the 30-day window relieves the car rental company of liability for the infraction. In lieu of identifying the vehicle operator, the company may also choose to pay the applicable penalty.

A traffic infraction based on the identity of the vehicle is defined to include, but is not limited to, parking infractions, high-occupancy toll lane violations, and violations recorded by automated traffic safety cameras.

Summary of Bill:

A rental car business can avoid liability for an infraction when it is unable to determine who was driving or renting a vehicle when the infraction occurred only when the vehicle was stolen and the rental car business can provide a filed police report regarding the theft.

When the owner of a vehicle is a rental car business, parking infractions issued by private parking facilities based on a vehicle's identification are subject to the same statutory scheme applicable to infractions based on a vehicle's identification issued by law enforcement agencies.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.