SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2201

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, April 2, 1999

Title:  An act relating to trip permit surcharges.

Brief Description:  Imposing a surcharge on trip permit fees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fisher, Hankins, Ogden, K. Schmidt, Ericksen, Skinner, Radcliff and Mielke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/31/99, 4/2/99 [DPA, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Oke, Patterson, Sellar, Shin and Swecker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Morton, Sheahan and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon Ziegler (786-7316); Jerry Long (786-7309)

Background:  Motor vehicles driving on Washington's public highways must be either licensed in Washington or be covered by a reciprocal arrangement with another state.  Vehicles that are unlicensed and have no such reciprocal agreement must either become licensed or purchase a trip permit in lieu of a license.

Commercial vehicle operators must pay a special fuel use tax while operating in Washington.  A special fuel user may obtain a trip permit in lieu of paying the fuel tax.

Each trip permit authorizes the operation of a single vehicle at the maximum weight limit for that vehicle, for a period of three consecutive days.  No more than three permits may be used for any vehicle in any period of 30 consecutive days. For recreational vehicles, no more than two permits may be used for any one vehicle in a one-year period.

Trip permits may be obtained from field offices of the Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, or other agents appointed by the department.  The current fee for obtaining a vehicle trip permit is $10.  The fee for obtaining a special fuel user trip permit is $20.  Trip permit fees are deposited in the motor vehicle fund and the general fund.

Summary of Amended Bill:  A surcharge of $5 is imposed on the issuance of trip permits to motor carriers.  The surcharge must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund for the purpose of supporting vehicle weigh stations, weigh-in-motion programs, and the commercial vehicle information systems and networks program.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The surcharge is only imposed on trip permits purchased by motor carriers.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The trucking community supports the additional surcharge because it will be used for technology which will benefit all motor carriers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Larry Pursley, WA Trucking Assn. (pro); Greg Hanon, AAA Washington (concerns); Tony Meinhardt, WA State RV Dealers Assn. (concerns).