Z-1419.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2819

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives Buck, Regala and Chandler; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife

Read first time 01/20/98.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Requiring display of a vehicle use permit while using department of fish and wildlife improved access facilities.

    AN ACT Relating to vehicle use on department of fish and wildlife lands; amending RCW 77.32.380; and prescribing penalties.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 77.32.380 and 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 77 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Persons ((sixteen years of age or older)) who enter upon or use ((clearly identified)) department ((lands and)) improved access facilities with a vehicle are required to ((possess a conservation license or a hunting, fishing, trapping, or free license on their person while using the facilities)) display a current annual fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit on the vehicle while within or while using an improved access facility.  An "improved access facility" is an area specifically created for motor vehicle parking, and includes any boat launch or boat ramp associated with the parking area, but does not include the department parking facilities at the Gorge Concert Center near George, Washington.  The vehicle use permit is issued in the form of a decal.  One decal shall be issued at no charge with each annual saltwater, freshwater, combination, small game hunting, and big game hunting license issued by the department.  The annual fee for ((this license)) a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit, if purchased separately, is ten dollars ((annually)).  Revenue derived from the sale of fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permits shall be used solely for the stewardship and maintenance of department improved access facilities.

    ((The spouse, all children under eighteen years of age, and guests under eighteen years of age of the holder of a valid conservation license may use department lands and access facilities when accompanied by the license holder.

    Youth groups may use department lands and game access facilities without possessing a conservation license when accompanied by a license holder.

    The conservation license is nontransferable and must be validated by the signature of the holder.  Upon request of a wildlife agent or ex officio wildlife agent a person using clearly identified department lands shall exhibit the required license.))

(2) The decal must be affixed in a permanent manner to the vehicle before entering upon or using the vehicle on a department improved access facility, and must be displayed on the rear window of the vehicle, or, if the vehicle does not have a rear window, on the rear of the vehicle.

(3) Failure to display the fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit required by this section is an infraction, and department employees are authorized to issue a notice of infraction to the registered owner of any vehicle entering upon or using a department improved access facility without such decal.  The penalty for failure to display or improper display of the decal is one hundred dollars.

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