HOUSE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 1902

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House:

February 13, 2014

Title: An act relating to the creation of intermittent-use trailer license plates.

Brief Description: Creating intermittent-use trailer license plates.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Holy, Shea, Short, Clibborn, Schmick, Ormsby, Fagan, Crouse, Riccelli, Blake and Kristiansen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 1/22/14 [DP2S].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/13/14, 98-0.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill

  • Establishes a new vehicle class entitled "intermittent-use trailer."

  • Provides restrictions on the amount and type of use for an intermittent-use trailer.

  • Implements a $150 traffic infraction for a person that misuses an intermittent license plate.

  • Establishes an intermittent-use trailer license plate and one-time initial registration fee of $187.50.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. Signed by 29 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Moscoso, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Overstreet, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Fitzgibbon, Freeman, Habib, Hawkins, Hayes, Johnson, Klippert, Kochmar, Moeller, Muri, Pike, Riccelli, Rodne, Ryu, Sells, Shea, Takko, Tarleton, Walkinshaw, Young and Zeiger.

Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).

Background:

There are different types of trailers registered in the State of Washington. A private-use single trailer owned by a person and used for the private non-commercial use of the owner has an initial registration and annual renewal fee of $15. This fee is distributed 22.36 percent to the State Patrol Highway Account, 1.375 percent to the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account, 5.237 percent to the Nickel Account, 11.533 percent to the Transportation Partnership Account, with the remaining proceeds being deposited to the Motor Vehicle Fund.

Trailers that are over 2,000 pounds and travel trailers have an initial registration and renewal fee of $30. Of each initial or renewal vehicle license fee, $20.35 must be deposited in the State Patrol Highway Account, $2.02 of each initial vehicle license fee and 93 cents of each renewal vehicle license fee must be deposited in the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account, and the remaining proceeds are deposited to the Motor Vehicle Fund.

Trailers also pay a license plate technology fee of 25 cents and a license service fee of 50 cents. In addition to the registration fees, a boat trailer pays a $3 aquatic fee and travel trailers pay a $3 recreational vehicle sanitary disposal fee.

Horseless carriage license plates may be issued to a motor vehicle that is at least 40 years old. Collector vehicle plates may be issued to a motor vehicle that is at least 30 years old. Persons applying for a collector plate may receive a collector vehicle license plate assigned by the Department of Licensing (DOL) or use an actual Washington-issued license plate designated for general use in the year of the vehicle's manufacture. These vehicles may only be used for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and occasional pleasure driving. The plates have an initial fee of $35 and no renewal fees.

Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill:

The bill establishes a new vehicle class entitled "intermittent-use trailer," which means a trailer in working order that is used only for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, and parades, and for occasional pleasure use. "Occasional pleasure use" means use of a trailer that is not general or daily, but seasonal or sporadic, and not more than once a week on average. The initial registration fee is $187.50.

A person applying for an intermittent-use trailer license plate may receive an intermittent-use trailer license plate or the person may provide an actual Washington-issued license plate used in the year of the trailer's manufacture. A person that provides a false or facsimile license plate is subject to a traffic infraction plus the cost of an intermittent-use trailer license plate.

Intermittent-use license plates:

If the trailer is conveyed to a new owner, prior to the sale, the intermittent-use license plate must be removed and the new owner must obtain a new registration and appropriate license plate. Intermittent-use trailer license plates may not be transferred from one intermittent-use trailer to another intermittent-use trailer. A person must apply to the DOL and pay the initial registration fee of $187.50 to receive an intermittent-use trailer license plate for a different trailer, which is either assigned by the DOL or use an actual Washington-issued license plate. Intermittent-use trailer license plates cannot be used for special parking privileges. Intermittent-use trailer license plates are not eligible for a special license plate background.

A person that is determined to be in violation of inappropriately using an intermittent-use trailer with the intermittent-use trailer plate is subject to a traffic infraction of $150.

Of each intermittent-use trailer initial registration fee, $20.35 must be deposited in the State Patrol Highway Account, $2.02 of each intermittent-use trailer initial registration fee will be deposited in the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account, and the remaining intermittent-use trailer initial registration fee deposited to the Motor Vehicle Fund.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available. New fiscal note requested on February 13, 2014.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

See House Bill Report in the 2013 Regular Session.

Persons Testifying: See House Bill Report in the 2013 Regular Session.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: See House Bill Report in the 2013 Regular Session.