S-3357               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4575

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Halsan and Moore

Read first time 1/16/86 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions.

AN ACT Relating to credit card authorizations; adding a new section to chapter 19.86 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 19.86 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Merchants, including but not limited to rental car agencies, motels, and hotels, that require credit authorizations as a condition to the use of their goods or services shall notify the credit institution of the unused portion of the authorization at the time the business transaction between the merchant and the customer is terminated.

          (2) A person injured by a violation of this section may bring a civil action to recover actual damages and costs of the suit including reasonable attorneys' fees.  The court in its discretion, may increase the award to treble damages.