FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1502

                                  C 398 L 89

BYRepresentatives Walk and Schmidt; by request of Department of Transportation

Adjusting vehicle permit fees.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Special motor vehicle permits such as non-reducible load overweight and over- dimensional permits and additional tonnage permits may, under certain conditions, be issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) or its agents when a vehicle exceeds the legal height, width, length or weight limitations.

The fees for special motor vehicle and additional tonnage permits have not been increased since 1953.  The cost of administration during this period has increased significantly.  An increase in certain oversize/overweight fees will help defray the administrative cost involved in issuing these permits.

The Department contracts with 28 private businesses, some county auditors and county road departments, and the Washington State Patrol to issue special motor vehicle and additional tonnage permits in the field.  The agents remit the full permit fee to the Department; the DOT, in turn, reimburses the issuing agent at a rate of $2.50 per permit.  Payments to issuing agents exceed $100,000 per year.  Other state agencies which issue licenses and permits have the statutory authority to allow their contracting agents to retain a portion of the permit fee to help defray the cost incurred in selling permits.  Remittance to and reimbursement from the state agency is not required.

The owner of a vehicle that exceeds the legal width limitation of eight and one-half feet must purchase an over-dimensional permit issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) when operating on the public highways.  Certain appliances are excluded from this calculation if it is determined by the DOT that these appurtenances are necessary for the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle.  The safety exclusions may not extend more than two inches beyond the extreme limits of the vehicle.

A new tarping method for covering garbage truck loads is being sold in the state of Washington.  The purpose is to comply with the covered load statute.  The tarp is permanently affixed to the vehicle and automatically covers the load when a switch is activated.  The frame necessary to hold the tarp extends six inches beyond the permanent structure, and therefor exceeds the two-inch safety tolerance.

SUMMARY:

Certain special motor vehicle permit fees are increased:  (1) The single trip permit fee for over-dimensional load (height, width or length) movements is increased from $5 to $10; (2) The minimum fee for a non-reducible overweight permit and non-reducible overweight duplicate permit are both increased from $5 to $10.

Certain additional tonnage permit fees are also increased:  (1) The annual additional tonnage duplicate or transfer permit fee is increased from $5 to $10; (2) The minimum fee for a temporary additional tonnage permit is increased from $1 to $2 per day for each 2,000 pounds; (3) The minimum fee for prorated additional tonnage is increased from $5 to $25.  Prorated additional tonnage fees are rounded off to a full dollar amount (same language as used in non-reducible load overweight fee schedule).

Agents of the Department who are authorized to issue special motor vehicle, additional tonnage and log tolerance permits are specified.  Issuing agents are permitted to retain $3.50 of the permit fee collected to offset administrative costs.

The DOT may issue overwidth permits to vehicles with a total outside width, including the load, of nine feet when the vehicle is equipped with a mechanism designed to cover the load.  The permit fee is $20 per month or $240 per year.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 97   1

      Senate    36    10(Senate amended)

      House 94   3 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989