HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1324

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to drivers' licenses.

Brief Description:  Restricting licenses for owners owing towing expenses.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Zellinsky, Chandler, Lisk, Brumsickle, Van Luven, Ferguson, Prentice, Orr, Bowman, Day, R. Fisher and Betrozoff.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 27, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1324 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Heavey; Horn; P. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Orr; Prentice; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 5 members:  Representatives Cantwell; Cooper; Mitchell; Nelson; and Schmidt.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307).

Background:  Currently, at the time of driver's license issuance, a person must provide positive identification and pay a fee.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Licensing (DOL) shall not issue a driver's license to any person who has not paid towing and storage charges from a law enforcement impound to a registered tow truck operator.

Rulemaking authority is added to allow DOL to collect administrative costs.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Collection of unpaid bills for law enforcement impounds is limited.  DOL is allowed to establish procedures to collect administrative costs from the tow truck operators.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 11, 1991.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Tow truck operators would be allowed to collect unpaid bills.

Testimony Against:  It is inappropriate for the issuance of a driver's license to be used as a method of collecting tow truck operators' unpaid bills.

Witnesses:  Al Runte', Washington Tow Truck Association (pro); and Alan Oates, Department of Licensing (con).