HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1558

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to release of impounded vehicles.

Brief Description:  Tightening requirements for release of impounded vehicles.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Transportation (Originally sponsored by Representatives Mitchell, Hatfield, McDonald, Poulsen, Bush, Constantine and Radcliff; by request of Washington State Patrol).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/11/99, 2/15/99 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/8/99, 97-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate:  4/14/99, 46-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$To redeem an impounded vehicle, the registered owner must establish with the court having jurisdiction, that all fines and penalties have been paid.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 27 members:  Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co-Chair; K. Schmidt, Republican Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic 1st Vice Chair; Edwards, Democratic 2nd Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Buck; G. Chandler; DeBolt; Fortunato; Haigh; Hatfield; Hurst; Lovick; McDonald; Mielke; Morris; Murray; Ogden; Pflug; Radcliff; Romero; Schindler; Schual-Berke; Scott; Skinner and Wood.

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon Ziegler (786-7316).

Background:

A vehicle operated by a person with a suspended driver's license is subject to impound by a law enforcement officer.  To redeem the vehicle, the registered owner must establish with the agency ordering the impound that all penalties, fines, or forfeitures have been satisfied.  The court will give the registered owner a notice of adjudication which demonstrates payment of all penalties and fines. The vehicle will not be released without proof of payment.

Summary of Bill:

An impounded vehicle operated by a registered owner with a suspended driver's license will not be released until the owner establishes with the court of jurisdiction that any penalties, fines, or forfeitures relating to the impound have been satisfied.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): An agency may determine whether it wants an individual to establish payment of fines with the agency or with the court having jurisdiction.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The legislation removes an extra step from the process.  This makes the redemption process quicker with less paperwork.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (support) Captain Eric Robertson, Washington State Patrol.

  (support with concerns) Stu Halson, Washington Tow Truck Association.