FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5445

                          C 219 L 95

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Clarifying responsibility for abandoned vehicles.

Sponsors:  Senators Owen, Sellar and Winsley.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background:  Under current law, failure to redeem an abandoned vehicle is a traffic infraction.  The last registered owner of an abandoned vehicle is presumed responsible for the vehicle unless there has been a seller's report of sale filed with the Department of Licensing (DOL).  In addition to monetary penalties, a person failing to redeem an abandoned vehicle is liable for costs incurred in removing, storing, and disposing of the abandoned vehicle, less amounts realized at auction.  A traffic infraction for failure to redeem an abandoned vehicle is classified as a moving violation.

Failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction, or failure to appear at a requested hearing, with the exception of standing, stopping, or parking violations, results in the suspension of all driving privileges by the DOL.

Because failure to respond to a traffic infraction issued as the result of the failure to redeem an abandoned vehicle results in a suspension of the last registered owner's driver's license, the courts have been reluctant to report notices of failure to respond because of due process concerns.  The DOL records do not currently cross-reference registered owner records and driver records, so the courts have had no way of ensuring that the proper driver's license will be suspended.

There is also reported confusion among the courts regarding their role in ensuring that restitution is made for the amount of the deficiency remaining after the disposal of an abandoned vehicle.

Summary:  Due process concerns are addressed by removing the provision that suspends a license for failure to redeem an abandoned vehicle, and replacing it with the requirement that the issue be adjudicated prior to the issuance or renewal of a driver's license.

The courts' duties are clarified to ensure restitution is made for the amount of the deficiency remaining after disposal by specifying that in addition to any other monetary penalty payable, the court cannot consider all penalties paid until restitution is made in the amount of the deficiency remaining after disposal of an unredeemed vehicle.

A traffic infraction for failure to redeem an impounded vehicle is declassified as a moving violation, but requires reporting to the DOL as a traffic infraction.

In the case of failure to redeem an abandoned vehicle, upon complaint by a registered tow truck operator who incurs costs for removing, storing, and disposing of an abandoned vehicle, a law enforcement officer from the agency directing the impound must attach to the notice of infraction:  (1) a notice indicating the amount of costs incurred as a result of removing, storing, and disposing of an abandoned vehicle, less any amount realized at auction; and (2) a statement that monetary penalties for the infraction are not considered paid until the traffic infraction penalty is paid and restitution is made in the amount of the deficiency remaining after disposal of the vehicle.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    46 0

House     93 0 (House amended)

Senate    48 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995