SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2286

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Transportation, February 25, 2002

Title:  An act relating to certificates of ownership for stolen vehicles.

Brief Description:  Correcting language regarding certificates of ownership for stolen vehicles.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fisher, Hatfield, Mitchell and Haigh; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/21/02, 2/25/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Jacobsen, Johnson, Keiser, McAuliffe, Oke and Shin.

Staff:  Dean Carlson (786‑7305)

Background:  Under current law, when a person applies to register a vehicle brought in from out-of-state, the Department of Licensing (DOL) is required to do a stolen vehicle search of out‑of‑state vehicles as part of the titling process.  If the stolen vehicle search produces results indicating the vehicle was flagged as reported stolen, the department is required to report this information to the Washington State Patrol (WSP) for further investigation.

During this investigative process,  DOL is currently prohibited from registering the vehicle.  This means the applicant cannot legally drive the vehicle until WSP confirms that the vehicle is not stolen.  Once WSP does its investigation and can confirm that the vehicle is not stolen, WSP then issues documentation indicating this fact.  The applicant must submit this documentation to the department in order to register his or her vehicle and subsequently obtain a certificate of ownership.

Summary of Bill:  In conducting a stolen vehicle search of out‑of‑state vehicles, if a vehicle is flagged as reported stolen, DOL is prohibited from issuing a certificate of ownership.  However, in order to allow an applicant the ability to legally drive a vehicle which has been flagged as reported stolen, DOL is allowed to register the vehicle while WSP conducts its investigation.

Once WSP can confirm that a vehicle under investigation is not stolen, or if the out‑of‑state search indicates the vehicle is not stolen, DOL is authorized to issue a certificate of ownership.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will clear up the language to reflect that a certificate of ownership may not be issued until the vehicle has been cleared from the stolen vehicle check.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Deb McCurley, Department of Licensing (pro).