FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 6460

                                  C 114 L 92

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Removing redundant for hire vehicle provisions.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Sellar, Newhouse and McMullen; by request of Department of Licensing)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the Department of Licensing (DOL) is responsible for enforcing regulations concerning "for-hire" vehicles.  A "for-hire" vehicle is one which transports passengers for compensation.  Auto stages, school buses used solely for school purposes, ride-sharing vehicles (such as van pools) and limousine charter party carriers are specifically excluded from the provisions.

Owners of for-hire vehicle companies must be issued a permit to operate.  Before DOL will approve the application for a permit, the owner must first obtain a city or county permit or, where no regulatory agency exists, the approval of a designated city or county official.  Once the owner has approval from the city/county authority, DOL will consider the application and may issue a permit.  The permit does not need to be renewed, but can be revoked or suspended by DOL if owners are not in compliance with the law.

Each vehicle must also have a valid certificate issued by DOL listing the name of the owner and showing that the vehicle is properly insured and that the owner has paid the yearly certificate fee.  Most cities and counties also require their own certificates to be carried in each vehicle.  The requirements for these certificates are usually the same as the requirements for the DOL certificates.  It is a criminal violation to operate a for-hire vehicle without a valid certificate.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Licensing is no longer responsible for issuing permits to for-hire vehicle operators in jurisdictions that already issue their own permits.  DOL retains its responsibility for issuing certificates, even in those jurisdictions requiring their certificates be issued by their own local regulatory authority.

DOL is given the ability to adjust fees for permits and certificates via the usual administrative rule-making procedures.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      47    0

House 97    0

EFFECTIVE:  June 11, 1992