READ FIRST TIME 01/28/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to snowmobile registrations; and amending RCW 46.10.020 and 46.10.040.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 46.10.020 and 2005 c 235 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in this chapter, ((no)) a person ((shall own, transport, or)) may not operate any snowmobile within this state unless such snowmobile has been registered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. ((However, a vintage snowmobile only requires registration if operated within this state.))
     (2) A registration number shall be assigned, without payment of a fee, to snowmobiles owned by the state of Washington or its political subdivisions, and the assigned registration number shall be displayed upon each snowmobile in such manner as provided by rules adopted by the department.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.10.040 and 2005 c 235 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Application for registration shall be made to the department in the manner and upon forms the department prescribes, and shall state the name and address of each owner of the snowmobile to be registered, and shall be signed by at least one such owner, and shall be accompanied by an annual registration fee ((to be established by the commission, after consultation with the committee and any statewide snowmobile user groups)) as described in (a) of this subsection.
     (a) The annual registration fee for snowmobiles ((newer)) manufactured less than thirty years is thirty dollars. The annual registration fee for vintage snowmobiles is twelve dollars. The department shall design, in cooperation with the commission, a distinct registration decal which shall be issued to vintage snowmobiles upon payment of the annual registration fee.
     (b) Upon receipt of the application and the application fee, the snowmobile shall be registered and a registration number assigned, which shall be affixed to the snowmobile in a manner provided in RCW 46.10.070.
     (2) The registration provided in this section shall be valid for a period of one year. At the end of the period of registration, every owner of a snowmobile in this state shall renew his or her registration in the manner the department prescribes, for an additional period of one year, upon payment of the annual registration fee ((as determined by the commission)).
     (3) Any person acquiring a snowmobile already validly registered under the provisions of this chapter must, within ten days of the acquisition or purchase of the snowmobile, make application to the department for transfer of the registration, and the application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee of five dollars.
     (4) A snowmobile owned by a resident of another state or Canadian province where registration is not required by law may be issued a nonresident registration permit valid for not more than sixty days. Application for the permit shall state the name and address of each owner of the snowmobile to be registered and shall be signed by at least one owner and shall be accompanied by a registration fee of five dollars. The registration permit shall be carried on the vehicle at all times during its operation in this state.
     (5) The registration fees provided in this section shall be in lieu of any personal property or excise tax heretofore imposed on snowmobiles by this state or any political subdivision thereof, and no city, county, or other municipality, and no state agency shall hereafter impose any other registration or license fee on any snowmobile in this state.
     (6) The department shall make available a pair of uniform decals consistent with the provisions of RCW 46.10.070. In addition to the registration fee provided in this section the department shall charge each applicant for registration the actual cost of the decal. The department shall make available replacement decals for a fee equivalent to the actual cost of the decals.