S-0661.2 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5700
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Senators Owen, Prince, Heavey, Wood, Kohl and Deccio
Read first time 02/01/95. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle license plates; amending RCW 46.16.270; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 46.16.270 and 1990 c 250 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:
((Replacement)) Vehicle
plates ((issued after)) must be replaced if they were issued before
January 1, ((1987, will be centennial plates as described in RCW 46.16.650))
1993. Thereafter, all plates must be replaced every five years from their
date of issuance. The ((total)) replacement plate fee ((including
the one dollar per plate centennial plate fee)) shall be deposited in the
motor vehicle fund. A person applying for a renewal vehicle license after
January 1, 1997, must purchase replacement vehicle license number plates if the
vehicle license number plates were issued before January 1, 1993, or if the
vehicle license number plates are the personalized plates with a yellow
background, which are discontinued on July 1, 1995. The requirement for
replacement license plates does not apply to plates designated in RCW 46.16.305
(1) or (3).
After January 1, 1997, all new and replacement vehicle license number plates for licensed vehicles in this state must be of a single background design developed by the department and approved by the transportation committees of the senate and the house of representatives by January 1, 1996. In developing a single background design, the department shall consider the application of new technologies that will assist law enforcement agencies and the traveling public in vehicle identification. Before a new design is selected, the department shall consider the fiscal impact of replacing the mountain background design plate that was established for the Washington state centennial celebration. The department shall ensure that license plates issued after January 1, 1997, conform to current highway safety and visibility standards.
Upon the loss, defacement, or destruction of one or both of the vehicle license number plates issued for any vehicle where more than one plate was originally issued or where one or both have become so illegible or in such a condition as to be difficult to distinguish, or upon the owner's option, the owner of the vehicle shall make application for new vehicle license number plates upon a form furnished by the director. The application shall be filed with the director or the director's authorized agent, accompanied by the certificate of license registration of the vehicle and a fee in the amount of three dollars per plate, whereupon the director, or the director's authorized agent, shall issue new vehicle license number plates to the applicant. It shall be accompanied by a fee of two dollars for a new motorcycle license number plate. In the event the director has issued license period tabs or a windshield emblem instead of vehicle license number plates, and upon the loss, defacement, or destruction of the tabs or windshield emblem, application shall be made on a form provided by the director and in the same manner as above described, and shall be accompanied by a fee of one dollar for each pair of tabs or for each windshield emblem, whereupon the director shall issue to the applicant a duplicate pair of tabs, year tabs, and when necessary month tabs or a windshield emblem to replace those lost, defaced, or destroyed. For vehicles owned, rented, or leased by the state of Washington or by any county, city, town, school district, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington or United States government, or owned or leased by the governing body of an Indian tribe as defined in RCW 46.16.020, a fee shall be charged for replacement of a vehicle license number plate only to the extent required by the provisions of RCW 46.16.020, 46.16.061, 46.16.237, and 46.01.140. For vehicles owned, rented, or leased by foreign countries or international bodies to which the United States government is a signatory by treaty, the payment of any fee for the replacement of a vehicle license number plate shall not be required.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1995.
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