HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1456

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to hulk haulers and scrap processors.

Brief Description:  Defining the legislature's intent to license and regulate hulk haulers and scrap processors.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Haugen, Wilson, Zellinsky, Spanel, R. Fisher, Rasmussen, Orr and R. Johnson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 19, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1456 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Brough; Cantwell; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Horn; P. Johnson; R. Johnson; Kremen; Mitchell; Nelson; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304).

Background:  A hulk hauler is any person who deals in vehicles for the sole purpose of transporting and/or selling them to a licensed motor vehicle wrecker or scrap processor in substantially the same form in which they are obtained.  A hulk hauler may not sell second-hand motor vehicle parts to anyone other than a licensed vehicle wrecker or scrap processor, except for those parts specifically enumerated in statute.

A scrap processor is a licensed establishment that maintains a hydraulic baler and shears, or a shredder for recycling salvage.

The original registration fee for hulk haulers is $10 with a $10 annual renewal fee.  The original registration fee for scrap processors is $25 with a $10 annual renewal fee.

Hulk haulers and scrap processors are issued special license plates by the Department of Licensing.  The fee for the plates is $5 and $2 for renewal.

Hulk haulers and scrap processors are inspected by the city police in cities of under 5,000 and by the Washington State Patrol in cities of over 5,000 people.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The original and annual registration fees for hulk haulers are increased from $10 to $50.  The original registration fee for scrap processors is increased from $25 to $100, and the annual renewal fee is increased from $10 to $100.

The fee for hulk hauler's and scrap processor's license plates is increased from $5 to $25, and the annual renewal fee is increased from $2 to $25.

Only the State Patrol may inspect hulk haulers and scrap processors.

Hulk haulers must be available to arrange a time for inspection, in person or by phone, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.  State Patrol officers may inspect scrap processors between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  But if scrap processors are not open for business during this period, they must conspicuously post their hours at the established place of business.

Hulk haulers' vehicles used to transport vehicle salvage must be inspected by the State Patrol.

Anyone who violates this chapter and is found guilty of a gross misdemeanor must be punished by imprisonment for not less than 30 days or more than one year, or by a fine of $1000.

Hulk haulers must maintain a record of all vehicles that they transport and sell, and scrap processors must maintain a record of all vehicles that they acquire.

The director of the Department of Licensing (DOL) may order a hulk hauler or scrap processor to cease operation if he or she is engaging in or about to engage in a practice in violation of this chapter.

DOL may refuse to issue a hulk hauler's or scrap processor's license to a person if the application is not filed in good faith or the application is filed by some person as subterfuge for the real person in interest whose license has previously been canceled for cause.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A section stating legislative intent is added.  Hulk haulers and scrap processors must be regulated to discourage the sale of stolen vehicles and component parts, but also permitted to continue playing their part in the state's solid waste management system by reusing and recycling solid waste material.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 8, 1991.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.