VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6173-S

                   March 29, 1996

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 6, Substitute Senate Bill No. 6173 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle dealers;"

     Substitute Senate Bill No. 6173 makes a number of changes affecting motor vehicle dealers.

     Section 6 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 6173 allows a vehicle dealer, in certain circumstances, to charge expenses or fees to purchasers of used cars previously taken as a trade‑in or of new cars in which financing is arranged by the dealer. These costs should not be passed on to the consumer separate from the agreed price of the car but rather should simply be treated as another cost of doing business that dealers must consider when determining a price.

     For this reason, I have vetoed section 6 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 6173.

     With the exception of section 6, Substitute Senate Bill No. 6173 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Mike Lowry

                   Governor