SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1502

BYRepresentatives Walk and Schmidt; by request of Department of Transportation

Adjusting vehicle permit fees.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 21, 1989; March 24, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Bender, Conner, Madsen, Sellar, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

                  March 24, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 24, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Special motor vehicle permits (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 contracting 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.

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.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT: 

A technical change is made to allow Department of Transportation agents to retain a portion of the permit fee.

Senate Committee - Testified: Terry Corrigan, Department of Transportation