HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5666

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to acquisition of vehicles and parts by vehicle wreckers.

Brief Description:  Simplifying acquisitions procedures for wreckers.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Long, Goings, Johnson and Haugen).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  3/23/99, 3/30/99 [DPA].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

            (As Amended by House Committee)

$Major component parts of vehicles that only have value as scrap are exempt from statutory record-keeping requirements.

$A wrecker may obtain a vehicle from an interim owner without obtaining a certificate of ownership in the name of the interim owner.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co-Chair; K. Schmidt, Republican Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic 1st Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Buck; G. Chandler; DeBolt; Haigh; Hatfield; Hurst; Lovick; McDonald; Mielke; Mitchell; Morris; Murray; Ogden; Pflug; Romero; Schindler; Schual-Berke; Scott; Skinner and Wood.

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon Ziegler (786-7316).

Background:

A vehicle wrecker must keep books or files on every major component part acquired by the wrecker.  The major component parts must be identified by the vehicle identification number of the vehicle from which the part came.  The wrecker's books must also include information regarding the vehicle that was the source of the major component part.  Failure to comply with these requirements is a gross misdemeanor.

When an owner of a vehicle transfers his or her vehicle, he or she must provide a report of sale to the Department of Licensing (DOL).  The report of sale must include the date of the sale or transfer, the name and address of the owner and of the transferee, and a description of the vehicle.  Within 15 days after delivery of the vehicle, the buyer must apply for a new certificate of title.

Within 30 days after acquiring a vehicle, a wrecker must furnish a report to the DOL.  The report must be accompanied by evidence of ownership of the vehicle.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Core is defined as a major component part received by a vehicle wrecker in exchange for a like part sold by the wrecker.  Cores are exempt from the record-keeping requirements for major component parts.  Cores may only be sold for scrap metal value or re-manufacture.  The wrecker must keep the name of the person from whom he obtained the core in his records for three years.

An interim owner is an individual in possession of the vehicle and to whom the previous owner assigned the certificate of ownership.

No vehicle wrecker may acquire a vehicle from an interim owner without first obtaining evidence of ownership as determined by the DOL.  Evidence of ownership does not include a certificate of ownership in the name of the interim owner.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Wreckers must keep the name of the person from whom they obtained the core in their records for three years.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The legislation simply clarifies the current law and assures that vehicles are not abandoned in the community.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (Support) Gary Smith, Independent Business Association.

(Support with amendments) Captain Eric Robertson, Washington State Patrol; and Stu Halsan, Washington Tow Truck Association.