FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5719

C 284 L 09

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Modifying title and registration requirements for kit vehicles.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker and Brown).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background: Kit vehicles are passenger cars or trucks that are assembled from a manufactured kit. Current requirements for titling and registering a kit vehicle specify that the make must be listed as "KITV," and the series and body designation must describe the appearance of the vehicle using the word "replica." The titling requirements also specify that the vehicle must comply with the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) chapter that formerly contained equipment standards established by the Washington State Patrol (WSP).

Among the equipment standards promulgated by the WSP are the requirements that a vehicle must have a frame that was welded by a certified welder, and the structural strength of the frame must be certified by an engineer as meeting certain federal standards.

Summary: A definition of "kit vehicle" is added, together with a list of the components that must be present in order for the vehicle to pass a pre-registration inspection. In order to pass inspection, a kit vehicle must include: brakes on all wheels; brake hoses; brake fluids; a separately actuated parking brake; lights; pneumatic tires; a glazed windshield; seat belts; a defroster; door latches; an adequate floor plan; separation between the passenger compartment and any internal combustion engine; fenders; a speedometer; mirrors; an accelerator with double springs; a leak proof, ventilated, and securely attached fuel system; a steering wheel; a suspension; an exhaust system; and a horn.

The series and body designations for a kit vehicle must describe a discrete vehicle, but need not identify the vehicle as a replica of another vehicle. The Department of Licensing (DOL) must use the model year of a manufactured new vehicle kit and manufactured body kit as the year reflected on the manufacturer's certificate of origin.

The reference to the WAC chapter for equipment standards in the kit vehicle statute is updated. Kit vehicles must comply with the equipment standards established by the WSP; however, a kit vehicle is exempt from the welding requirements specified in WAC if the owner provides documentation from the manufacturer that informs the owner that the welding on the frame was not completed by a certified welder and that the structural strength of the frame has not been certified by an engineer.

DOL must issue a certificate of ownership or registration to an applicant who completes an application, complies with the statute governing the titling of a kit vehicle, and pays the requisite titling fees and taxes. DOL must issue a vehicle license or license plates to an applicant who completes an application, is a Washington State resident, complies with the statute governing the licensing of a kit vehicle, and pays the requisite vehicle licensing fees and taxes.

Votes on Final Passage:

Effective: July 26, 2009