H-3484.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2813

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives Carrell, Sherstad and Kastama

Read first time 01/20/98.  Referred to Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget.

Expanding eligibility of disabled veterans for free license plates.

    AN ACT Relating to disabled veteran license plates; and amending RCW 73.04.110.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 73.04.110 and 1987 c 98 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    Any person who is a veteran ((as defined in RCW 41.04.005)) who submits to the department of licensing satisfactory proof of a service-connected disability rating from the veterans administration or the military service from which the veteran was discharged and:

    (1) Has lost the use of both hands or one foot;

    (2) Was captured and incarcerated for more than twenty-nine days by an enemy of the United States during a period of war with the United States;

    (3) Has become blind in both eyes as the result of military service; or

    (4) Is rated by the veterans administration or the military service from which the veteran was discharged and is receiving service-connected compensation at the one hundred percent rate that is expected to exist for more than one year;

is entitled to regular or special license plates issued by the department of licensing.  The special license plates shall bear distinguishing marks, letters, or numerals indicating that the motor vehicle is owned by a disabled veteran or former prisoner of war.  This license shall be issued annually for one personal use vehicle without payment of any license fees or excise tax thereon.  Whenever any person who has been issued license plates under the provisions of this section applies to the department for transfer of the plates to a subsequently acquired motor vehicle, a transfer fee of five dollars shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees.  The department may periodically verify the one hundred percent rate as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

    Any person who has been issued free motor vehicle license plates under this section prior to July 1, 1983, shall continue to be eligible for the annual free license plates.

    For the purposes of this section, "blind" means the definition of "blind" used by the state of Washington in determining eligibility for financial assistance to the blind under Title 74 RCW.

    Any unauthorized use of a special plate is a gross misdemeanor.

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