SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2604

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 22, 1996

Title:  An act relating to lists of registered and legal owners of vehicles.

Brief Description:  Providing vehicle owners' names and addresses to commercial parking companies.

Sponsors:  Representatives Silver, R. Fisher, Chopp and Tokuda.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/20/96, 2/22/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Goings, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar and Wood.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305)

Background:  Commercial parking companies contact registered owners of motor vehicles to notify them of outstanding parking violations.  Currently, the commercial parking companies receive registered owner information from the Department of Licensing (DOL) via printed forms.

In the section pertaining to public records, the public disclosure law prohibits agencies from providing access to lists of individuals for commercial purposes, unless specifically authorized or directed by law.  Although RCW 46.12.380 does authorize the disclosure of the names and addresses of vehicle owners for commercial purposes, it prescribes the manner of production.  Under the procedures in RCW 46.12.380, DOL currently prohibits the disclosure of this information electronically (e.g., magnetic tape) to commercial parking companies except when said companies are acting on behalf of a municipality or other governmental entity.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Licensing (DOL) is permitted to furnish lists of the registered owners of motor vehicles electronically to commercial parking companies.  If a registered owner list is used by a commercial parking company for any purpose other than notification of outstanding parking violations, DOL denies further access to such information.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill helps bring parking enforcement into the technology age.  Using magnetic tape to acquire the names and addresses of registered vehicle owners will diminish the cost and delay associated with paper shuffling.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Craig Bagdon, Ticket Track (pro).