HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1507

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to abandoned, unauthorized, or junk vehicles.

Brief Description:  Penalizing owners of abandoned, unauthorized, or junk vehicles.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Zellinsky, Ballard, Chappell, Van Luven, R. Johnson, Campbell, R. Meyers, Springer and Sheldon.)

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 16, 1993, DPS;

  Passed House, March 15, 1993, 92-5;

  Amended by Senate;

Passed Legislature, April 20, 1993, 96-1.

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; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Forner; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; R. Meyers; Miller; H. Myers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Fuhrman.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307).

Background:  A registered tow truck operator who has complied with all impoundment and notification laws has a lien upon a vehicle for the towing and storage charges incurred.

In addition to the lien, a registered tow truck operator has a deficiency claim against the registered owner of the vehicle for towing and storage of the vehicle not to exceed $300 less the amount bid at auction, and for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, the deficiency is $1,000.

Summary of Bill:  The last registered owner of record is presumed liable for the abandonment of a vehicle unless the owner has filed a seller's report or vehicle theft report.  If an unauthorized vehicle is unredeemed, then the last registered owner is guilty of a traffic infraction.

A person must make restitution to the tow truck operator for services rendered prior to the traffic infraction being satisfied.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 2, 1993.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will aid in the disposal of abandoned vehicles by providing the tow truck operator with a greater level of assurance that he will be compensated for his services.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Stu Halsan, Washington Tow Truck Association.