SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1703

           AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 4, 1991

Brief Description:  Revising regulation of vehicle and vessel licensing and registration.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Cooper, Betrozoff and R. Johnson; by request of Department of Licensing).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Madsen, McMullen, Oke, Sellar, Snyder, Thorsness, and Vognild. 

Staff:  Louise Bray Sandison (786‑7322)

Hearing Dates:March 26, 1991; April 4, 1991

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) administers vehicle and vessel title and registration programs, as well as programs relating to disabled parking.  Several housekeeping changes are needed to modernize archaic language, to correct internal inconsistencies and to bring statutes into line with current practice.

As a result of interim work with the Governor's Commission on Disability and new federal regulations, several changes to the disabled parking statutes are necessary.

SUMMARY:

County auditors must retain vehicle records for 18 months rather than 36.

Language is clarified regarding the five-day notification period for a seller's report of sale.  The period does not include Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

Under full-year registration, a grace period until the first day of the month following registration is no longer applicable.  Vehicles are registered on a day-to-day basis effective July 1, 1991.

Changes to the handicapped parking statutes reflect the final report of the Handicapped Parking Regulatory Negotiation Advisory Committee which was adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation for adoption.  The purpose of the final rule is to develop a uniform parking system for persons with disabilities.

Special parking privileges shall be granted to persons meeting the following criteria, as determined by a licensed physician:  cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest; is severely limited in ability to walk due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition; cannot walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, another person, prosthetic device, or other assistive device; or uses portable oxygen or whose arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.

The Department of Licensing will issue removable windshield placards instead of both a placard and a decal.  Special disabled parking vehicle plates will be issued for one vehicle registered in the name of the disabled person.  If no plate is requested, the disabled person is entitled to two placards.

Vessels registered in another state, which is the state of principal use, and documented vessels are exempt from registration in Washington.

A confidential vessel program is created to parallel the confidential vehicle program to enhance law enforcement efforts.

Vessel dealers must place deposits in excess of $1,000, or deposits of any amount to be held in excess of 14 days, into a trust account.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The penalty for unauthorized use of a disabled parking placard or license plate is increased from a traffic infraction to a misdemeanor.

Renewal of disabled parking privileges is required only at the discretion of the Director of the Department of Licensing.

TESTIMONY FOR:

This is a housekeeping measure to eliminate archaic language and to correct errors in current law.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Nancy Wuerth, Governor's Comm. on Disability Issues; Nancy Kelly, DOL; Jack Swanberg, NW Marine Trade Assn.; James Buck, King Co. General Services