HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2660

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to vehicle licenses.

Brief Description:  Affecting vehicle license registration.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Cooper, Prince, Zellinsky and Mielke; by request of Department of Licensing).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 5, 1992, DPS;

Passed House, February 14, 1992, 90-0;

Amended by Senate.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Brough; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Heavey; Horn; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Nelson; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307).

Background:  If the director of the Department of Licensing (DOL) determines that a person applying for or already holding a motor vehicle title is not lawfully entitled to such title, DOL is required to notify that person by certified mail.

During the 1991 session the Legislature enacted a formula that would associate the number of dealer plates with the number of vehicles sold by a specific dealer.  The new restrictions prohibited any vehicle dealer selling less than five vehicles a year from obtaining dealer plates.  The intent of the legislation was to curb dealer plate abuses.

When a county authorizes collection of the $15 local option vehicle registration fee, it may provide for a refund process for those eligible.

Summary of Bill:  When the director of the Department of Licensing (DOL) notifies a person of a cancellation of a vehicle title, the notification shall be sent by regular mail service.  An affidavit of mail service shall be attached to a copy of the cancellation notice and retained by the department.

The director may waive by rule dealer plate issuance restrictions, if the waiver is in accordance with the purposes of the chapter and is essential to the continuation of the business.

The current reference process which is authorized under the local option vehicle registration fee statute is changed from a refund process to an exemption process.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): Provisions which would have allowed the department to use regular mail service instead of certified mail are deleted.

A provision is added that provides the department shall issue all vehicle dealers with at least three dealer plates.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The change from certified mail to regular mail with an affidavit will save money.  The provisions dealing with expired licenses will allow people to get a full 12-month registration.  DOL's rule-making authority will allow DOL to enforce the dealer plate abuse laws and still allow small dealers to retain dealer plates.

Testimony Against:  Denial of dealer plates to small dealers is discriminatory.

Witnesses:  Nancy Kelly, Department of Licensing (pro); and Jim Harkey, dealer (con).

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 90; Excused 6; Absent 2

Excused:  Representatives Basich, Braddock, Fisher G, Franklin, Peery, Wineberry

Absent:  Representatives Orr, Sommers H