S-1478

AN ACT Relating to license exemptions for certain specialized, nonpowered vehicle equipment; amending RCW 46.16.010, 46.16.030, 46.16.085, 46.87.020, and 46.87.070; and repealing RCW 46.16.083.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 46.16.010 and 1989 c 192 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) It is unlawful for a person to operate any vehicle over and along a public highway of this state without first having obtained and having in full force and effect a current and proper vehicle license and display vehicle license number plates therefor as by this chapter provided. Failure to make initial registration before operation on the highways of this state is a misdemeanor, and any person convicted thereof shall be punished by a fine of no less than three hundred thirty dollars, no part of which may be suspended or deferred. Failure to renew an expired registration before operation on the highways of this state is a traffic infraction.

(2) The licensing of a motor vehicle in another state by a resident of this state, as defined in RCW 46.16.028, with willful intent to evade the payment of any tax or license fee imposed in connection with registration, is a gross misdemeanor punishable as follows:

(a) For a first offense, up to one year in the county jail and a fine equal to twice the amount of delinquent taxes and fees, no part of which may be suspended or deferred;

(b) For a second or subsequent offense, up to one year in the county jail and a fine equal to three times the amount of delinquent taxes and fees, no part of which may be suspended or deferred.

(3) These provisions shall not apply to farm vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.181 if operated within a radius of fifteen miles of the farm where principally used or garaged, farm tractors and farm implements including trailers designed as cook or bunk houses used exclusively for animal herding temporarily operating or drawn upon the public highways, and trailers used exclusively to transport farm implements from one farm to another during the daylight hours or at night when such equipment has lights that comply with the law: PROVIDED FURTHER, That these provisions shall not apply to spray or fertilizer applicator rigs designed and used exclusively for spraying or fertilization in the conduct of agricultural operations and not primarily for the purpose of transportation, and nurse rigs or equipment auxiliary to the use of and designed or modified for the fueling, repairing or loading of spray and fertilizer applicator rigs and not used, designed or modified primarily for the purpose of transportation: PROVIDED FURTHER, That these provisions shall not apply to fork lifts operated during daylight hours on public highways adjacent to and within five hundred feet of the warehouses which they serve: PROVIDED FURTHER, That these provisions shall not apply to equipment defined as follows:

"Special highway construction equipment" is any vehicle which is designed and used primarily for grading of highways, paving of highways, earth moving, and other construction work on highways and which is not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property on a public highway and which is only incidentally operated or moved over the highway. It includes, but is not limited to, road construction and maintenance machinery so designed and used such as portable air compressors, air drills, asphalt spreaders, bituminous mixers, bucket loaders, track laying tractors, ditchers, leveling graders, finishing machines, motor graders, paving mixers, road rollers, scarifiers, earth moving scrapers and carryalls, lighting plants, welders, pumps, power shovels and draglines, self-propelled and tractor-drawn earth moving equipment and machinery, including dump trucks and tractor-dump trailer combinations which either (1) are in excess of the legal width or (2) which, because of their length, height or unladen weight, may not be moved on a public highway without the permit specified in RCW 46.44.090 and which are not operated laden except within the boundaries of the project limits as defined by the contract, and other similar types of construction equipment, or (3) which are driven or moved upon a public highway only for the purpose of crossing such highway from one property to another, provided such movement does not exceed five hundred feet and the vehicle is equipped with wheels or pads which will not damage the roadway surface.

Exclusions:

"Special highway construction equipment" does not include any of the following:

Dump trucks originally designed to comply with the legal size and weight provisions of this code notwithstanding any subsequent modification which would require a permit, as specified in RCW 46.44.090, to operate such vehicles on a public highway, including trailers, truck-mounted transit mixers, cranes and shovels, or other vehicles designed for the transportation of persons or property to which machinery has been attached.

(4) The following vehicles, whether operated solo or in combination, are exempt from license registration and displaying license plates as required by this chapter:

(a) A converter gear used to convert a semitrailer into a trailer or a two-axle truck or tractor into a three or more axle truck or tractor or used in any other manner to increase the number of axles of a vehicle. Converter gear includes an auxiliary axle, booster axle, dolly, and jeep axle.

(b) A tow dolly that is used for towing a motor vehicle behind another motor vehicle. The front or rear wheels of the towed vehicle are secured to and rest on the tow dolly that is attached to the towing vehicle by a tow bar.

Sec. 2. RCW 46.16.030 and 1990 c 42 s 110 are each amended to read as follows:

Except as is herein provided for foreign businesses, the provisions relative to the licensing of vehicles and display of vehicle license number plates and license registration certificates shall not apply to any vehicles owned by nonresidents of this state if the owner thereof has complied with the law requiring the licensing of vehicles in the names of the owners thereof in force in the state, foreign country, territory or federal district of his or her residence; and the vehicle license number plate showing the initial or abbreviation of the name of such state, foreign country, territory or federal district, is displayed on such vehicle substantially as is provided therefor in this state. The provisions of this section shall be operative as to a vehicle owned by a nonresident of this state only to the extent that under the laws of the state, foreign country, territory or federal district of his or her residence, like exemptions and privileges are granted to vehicles duly licensed under the laws of and owned by residents of this state. If under the laws of such state, foreign country, territory or federal district, vehicles owned by residents of this state, operating upon the highways of such state, foreign country, territory or federal district, are required to pay the license fee and carry the vehicle license number plates of such state, foreign country, territory or federal district, the vehicles owned by residents of such state, foreign country, territory or federal district, and operating upon the highways of this state, shall comply with the provisions of this state relating to the licensing of vehicles. Foreign businesses owning, maintaining, or operating places of business in this state and using vehicles in connection with such places of business, shall comply with the provisions relating to the licensing of vehicles insofar as vehicles used in connection with such places of business are concerned. Under provisions of the international registration plan, the nonmotor vehicles of member and nonmember jurisdictions which are properly based and licensed in such jurisdictions are granted reciprocity in this state as provided in RCW 46.87.070(2). ((Converter gears (auxiliary axles) that are properly based in jurisdictions that do not register or provide license plates for such vehicles may be operated in this state without the need for registration or the display of license plates as applicable.)) The director is empowered to make and enforce rules and regulations for the licensing of nonresident vehicles upon a reciprocal basis and with respect to any character or class of operation.

Sec. 3. RCW 46.16.085 and 1989 c 156 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

In lieu of all other licensing fees, an annual license fee of thirty-six dollars shall be collected in addition to the excise tax prescribed in chapter 82.44 RCW for: (1) Each trailer and semitrailer not subject to the license fee under RCW 46.16.065 or the capacity fees under RCW 46.16.080; (2) every pole trailer((~~; (3) every converter gear or auxiliary axle not licensed as a combination under the provisions of RCW 46.16.083~~)). The proceeds from this fee shall be distributed in accordance with RCW 46.68.035. This section does not pertain to travel trailers or personal use trailers that are not used for commercial purposes or owned by commercial enterprises.

Sec. 4. RCW 46.87.020 and 1990 c 42 s 111 are each amended to read as follows:

Terms used in this chapter have the meaning given to them in the International Registration Plan (IRP), the Uniform Vehicle Registration, Proration, and Reciprocity Agreement (Western Compact), chapter 46.04 RCW, or as otherwise defined in this section. Definitions given to terms by the IRP and the Western Compact, as applicable, shall prevail unless given a different meaning in this chapter or in rules adopted under authority of this chapter.

(1) "Apportionable vehicle" has the meaning given by the IRP, except that it does not include vehicles with a declared gross weight of twelve thousand pounds or less. Apportionable vehicles include trucks, tractors, truck tractors, road tractors, and buses, each as separate and licensable vehicles. For IRP jurisdictions that require the registration of nonmotor vehicles, this term may include ((~~converter gears (auxiliary axles),~~)) trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers as applicable, each as separate and licensable vehicles.

(2) "Cab card" is a certificate of registration issued for a vehicle by the registering jurisdiction under the Western Compact. Under the IRP, it is a certificate of registration issued by the base jurisdiction for a vehicle upon which is disclosed the jurisdictions and registered gross weights in such jurisdictions for which the vehicle is registered.

(3) "Commercial vehicle" is a term used by the Western Compact and means any vehicle, except recreational vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, and government owned or leased vehicles, that is operated and registered in more than one jurisdiction and is used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit, or is designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property and:

(a) Is a motor vehicle having a declared gross weight in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds; or

(b) Is a motor vehicle having three or more axles with a declared gross weight in excess of twelve thousand pounds; or

(c) Is a motor vehicle, trailer, pole trailer, ((~~converter gear (auxiliary axle),~~)) or semitrailer used in combination when the gross weight or declared gross weight of the combination exceeds twenty-six thousand pounds combined gross weight. The nonmotor vehicles mentioned are only applicable to those jurisdictions requiring the registration of such vehicles.

Although a two-axle motor vehicle, trailer, pole trailer, semitrailer, ((~~converter gear (auxiliary axle),~~)) or any combination of such vehicles with an actual or declared gross weight or declared combined gross weight exceeding twelve thousand pounds but not more than twenty-six thousand is not considered to be a commercial vehicle, at the option of the owner, such vehicles may be considered as "commercial vehicles" for the purpose of proportional registration. The nonmotor vehicles mentioned are only applicable to those jurisdictions requiring the registration of such vehicles.

Commercial vehicles include trucks, tractors, truck tractors, road tractors, and buses. ((~~Converter gears (auxiliary axles),~~)) Trailers, pole trailers, and semitrailers, will also be considered as commercial vehicles for those jurisdictions who require registration of such vehicles.

(4) "Credentials" means cab cards, apportioned plates (for Washington-based fleets), and validation tabs issued for proportionally registered vehicles.

(5) "Declared combined gross weight" means the total unladen weight of any combination of vehicles plus the weight of the maximum load to be carried on the combination of vehicles as set by the registrant in the application pursuant to chapter 46.44 RCW and for which registration fees have been or are to be paid.

(6) "Declared gross weight" means the total unladen weight of any vehicle plus the weight of the maximum load to be carried on the vehicle as set by the registrant in the application pursuant to chapter 46.44 RCW and for which registration fees have been or are to be paid. In the case of a bus, auto stage, or a passenger-carrying for hire vehicle with a seating capacity of more than six, the declared gross weight shall be determined by multiplying the average load factor of one hundred and fifty pounds by the number of seats in the vehicle, including the driver's seat, and add this amount to the unladen weight of the vehicle. If the resultant gross weight is not listed in RCW 46.16.070, it will be increased to the next higher gross weight so listed pursuant to chapter 46.44 RCW.

(7) "Department" means the department of licensing.

(8) "Fleet" means one or more commercial vehicles in the Western Compact and one or more apportionable vehicles in the IRP.

(9) "In-jurisdiction miles" means the total miles accumulated in a jurisdiction during the preceding year by vehicles of the fleet while they were a part of the fleet.

(10) "IRP" means the International Registration Plan.

(11) "Jurisdiction" means and includes a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a foreign county, and a state or province of a foreign country.

(12) "Owner" means a person or business firm who holds the legal title to a vehicle, or if a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for its conditional sale with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee, or if a vehicle is subject to a lease, contract, or other legal arrangement vesting right of possession or control, for security or otherwise, or if a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the owner is deemed to be the person or business firm in whom is vested right of possession or control.

(13) "Preceding year" means the period of twelve consecutive months immediately prior to July 1st of the year immediately preceding the commencement of the registration or license year for which proportional registration is sought.

(14) "Properly registered," as applied to the place of registration under the provisions of the Western Compact, means:

(a) In the case of a commercial vehicle, the jurisdiction in which it is registered if the commercial enterprise in which the vehicle is used has a place of business therein, and, if the vehicle is most frequently dispatched, garaged, serviced, maintained, operated, or otherwise controlled in or from that place of business, and the vehicle has been assigned to that place of business; or

(b) In the case of a commercial vehicle, the jurisdiction where, because of an agreement or arrangement between two or more jurisdictions, or pursuant to a declaration, the vehicle has been registered as required by that jurisdiction.

In case of doubt or dispute as to the proper place of registration of a commercial vehicle, the department shall make the final determination, but in making such determination, may confer with departments of the other jurisdictions affected.

(15) "Prorate percentage" is the factor that is applied to the total proratable fees and taxes to determine the apportionable or prorate fees required for registration in a particular jurisdiction. It is determined by dividing the in-jurisdiction miles for a particular jurisdiction by the total miles. This term is synonymous with the term "mileage percentage."

(16) "Registrant" means a person, business firm, or corporation in whose name or names a vehicle or fleet of vehicles is registered.

(17) "Registration year" means the twelve-month period during which the registration plates issued by the base jurisdiction are valid according to the laws of the base jurisdiction. The "registration year" for Washington is the period from January 1st through December 31st of each calendar year.

(18) "Total miles" means the total number of miles accumulated in all jurisdictions during the preceding year by all vehicles of the fleet while they were a part of the fleet. Mileage accumulated by vehicles of the fleet that did not engage in interstate operations is not included in the fleet miles.

(19) "Western Compact" means the Uniform Vehicle Registration, Proration, and Reciprocity Agreement.

Sec. 5. RCW 46.87.070 and 1990 c 42 s 112 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Washington-based trailers, semitrailers, ((~~converter gears (auxiliary axles),~~)) or pole trailers shall be fully licensed in this state except as herein provided. If these vehicles are being operated in jurisdictions that require the registration of such vehicles, the applicable vehicles may be considered as apportionable or commercial vehicles for the purpose of registration in those jurisdictions. The prorate percentage for which registration fees and taxes were paid to such jurisdictions for each nonmotor vehicle of the fleet may be credited toward the one hundred percent of registration fees and taxes due this state for full licensing of each such vehicle.

(2) Trailers, semitrailers, ((~~converter gears (auxiliary axles),~~)) and pole trailers which are properly based in jurisdictions other than Washington, and which display currently registered license plates from such jurisdictions will be granted vehicle license reciprocity in this state without the need of further vehicle license registration. If ((~~converter gears (auxiliary axles) or~~)) pole trailers are not required to be licensed separately by a member jurisdiction, such vehicles may be operated in this state without displaying a current base license plate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. RCW 46.16.083 and 1986 c 18 s 7, 1969 ex.s. c 170 s 4, & 1961 c 12 s 46.16.083 are each repealed.