AN ACT Relating to
certificates of ownership and registration; amending RCW 46.12.040 and
46.12.060; reenacting and amending RCW 46.12.030; adding a new section to
chapter 46.12 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 46.12.030 and 1995 c
274 s 1 and 1995 c 256 s 23 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
The application for (([a]))
a certificate of ownership shall be upon a form furnished or approved by
the department and shall contain:
(1) A full description
of the vehicle, which shall contain the proper vehicle identification number,
the number of miles indicated on the odometer at the time of delivery of the
vehicle, and any distinguishing marks of identification;
(2) The name and
address of the person who is to be the registered owner of the vehicle and, if
the vehicle is subject to a security interest, the name and address of the
secured party;
(3) Such other
information as the department may require. The department may in any instance,
in addition to the information required on the application, require additional
information and a physical examination of the vehicle or of any class of
vehicles, or either. A physical examination of the vehicle is mandatory if ((it
previously was registered in any other state or country or if)) it has been
rebuilt after surrender of the certificate of ownership to the department under
RCW 46.12.070 due to the vehicle's destruction or declaration as a total loss.
The inspection must verify that the vehicle identification number is genuine
and agrees with the number shown on the ((foreign)) title and
registration certificate. ((If the vehicle is from a jurisdiction that does
not issue titles, the inspection must verify that the vehicle identification
number is genuine and agrees with the number shown on the registration
certificate. The inspection must also confirm that the license plates on the
vehicle are those assigned to the vehicle by the jurisdiction in which the
vehicle was previously licensed.)) The inspection must be made by a member
of the Washington state patrol or other person authorized by the department to
make such inspections.
The application shall
be subscribed by the registered owner and be sworn to by that applicant in the
manner described by RCW 9A.72.085. The department shall retain the application
in either the original, computer, or photostatic form.
Sec. 2. RCW 46.12.040 and 1990 c
238 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
The application
accompanied by a draft, money order, certified bank check, or cash for one
dollar and twenty-five cents, together with the last preceding certificates or
other satisfactory evidence of ownership, shall be forwarded to the director.
The fee shall be in
addition to any other fee for the license registration of the vehicle. The
certificate of ownership shall not be required to be renewed annually, or at
any other time, except as by law provided.
In addition to the
application fee and any other fee for the license registration of a vehicle, ((there
shall be collected from the applicant an inspection fee whenever a physical
examination of the vehicle is required as a part of the vehicle licensing or
titling process.
For vehicles previously
registered in any other state or country, the inspection)) the department shall collect from the
applicant a fee ((shall be)) of fifteen dollars ((and))
for vehicles previously registered in any other state or country. The
proceeds from the fee shall be deposited in the motor vehicle fund. For ((all
other)) vehicles requiring a physical examination, the inspection fee shall
be ((twenty)) fifty dollars and shall be deposited in the motor
vehicle fund.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. A new section is added
to chapter 46.12 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall
institute software and systems modifications to enable a WACIC/NCIC stolen
vehicle search of out-of-state vehicles as part of the title transaction.
During the stolen vehicle search, if the information obtained indicates the
vehicle is stolen, that information shall be immediately reported to the state
patrol and the applicant shall not be permitted to register the vehicle.
Vehicles for which the stolen vehicle check is negative shall be registered if
the department is satisfied that all other requirements have been met.
Sec. 4. RCW 46.12.060 and 1975 c
25 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
Before the department
shall issue a certificate of ownership, or reissue such a certificate, covering
any vehicle, the identification number of which has been altered, removed,
obliterated, defaced, omitted, or is otherwise absent, the registered owner of
the vehicle shall file an application with the department, accompanied by a fee
of five dollars, upon a form provided, and containing such facts and
information as shall be required by the department for the assignment of a
special number for such vehicle. Upon receipt of such application, the department,
if satisfied the applicant is entitled to the assignment of an identification
number, shall designate a special identification number for such vehicle, which
shall be noted upon the application therefor, and likewise upon a suitable
record of the authorization of the use thereof, to be kept by the department.
This assigned identification number shall be placed or stamped in a conspicuous
position upon the vehicle in such manner and form as may be prescribed by the
department. Upon receipt by the department of ((a certificate by an officer
of the Washington state patrol, or other person authorized by the department,
that the vehicle has been inspected and that the identification number or the
special number plate, has been stamped or securely attached in a conspicuous
position upon the vehicle, accompanied by)) an application for a
certificate of ownership or application for reissue of such certificate and the
required fee therefor, the department shall use such number as the numerical or
alpha-numerical identification marks for the vehicle in any certificate of
license registration or certificate of ownership that may thereafter be issued
therefor.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support
of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
July 1, 2001.
