H-3579.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2148
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Representatives Sheldon, Reams, Johnson, Veloria, Silver, Chappell, Hargrove, B. Thomas, Dickerson, Mason, Delvin, Horn, Thompson and Benton
Read first time 01/08/96. Referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.
AN ACT Relating to special license plates for vehicles registered to foreign organizations; and amending RCW 46.16.371.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 46.16.371 and 1987 c 237 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Every honorary consul or official representative of any foreign government who is a citizen or resident of the United States of America, duly licensed and holding an exequatur issued by the department of state of the United States of America is entitled to apply to the director for, and upon satisfactory showing, and upon payment of regular license fees and excise tax, to receive, in lieu of the regular motor vehicle license plates, such special plates of a distinguishing color and running in a separate numerical series, as the director shall prescribe. Application for renewal of the license plates shall be as prescribed for the license renewal of other vehicles.
(2) Upon application, the department shall issue distinctive license plates bearing the words "foreign organization" for motor vehicles registered to an officer of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. A vehicle for which plates are issued under this subsection is exempt from the regular motor vehicle license fees. The distinctive license plates extend the same privileges, exemptions, and courtesies enjoyed by the consulates general of foreign governments in Washington.
(3) Whenever the owner or lessee as provided in subsection (1) or (2) of this section transfers or assigns his interest or title in the motor vehicle to which the special plates were attached, the plates shall be removed from the motor vehicle, and if another vehicle is acquired, attached thereto, and the director shall be immediately notified of the transfer of the plates; otherwise the removed plates shall be immediately forwarded to the director to be destroyed. Whenever the owner or lessee as provided in subsection (1) or (2) of this section is for any reason relieved of his duties as an honorary consul or official representative of a foreign government or officer of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, he shall immediately forward the special plates to the director, who shall upon receipt thereof provide such plates as are otherwise provided by law.
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