Z-0210.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5438

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Jacobsen, Regala and Oke; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife

Read first time 01/23/2001.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines.

Giving the fish and wildlife commission rule-making authority over the fish and wildlife vehicle use permit program.

    AN ACT Relating to fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permits; and amending RCW 77.32.380.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 77.32.380 and 2000 c 107 s 271 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Persons who enter upon or use clearly identified department improved access facilities with a motor vehicle may be required to display a current annual fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit on the motor vehicle while within or while using an improved access facility.  An "improved access facility" is a clearly identified area specifically created for motor vehicle parking, and includes any boat launch or boat ramp associated with the parking area, but does not include the department parking facilities at the Gorge Concert Center near George, Washington.  ((The vehicle use permit is issued in the form of a decal.))  One ((decal)) vehicle use permit shall be issued at no charge with ((each)) an initial purchase of one of either an annual saltwater, freshwater, combination, small game hunting, big game hunting, ((and)) or trapping license issued by the department.  The annual fee for a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit, if purchased separately, is ten dollars.  A person to whom the department has issued a ((decal)) vehicle use permit or who has purchased a vehicle use permit separately may purchase ((a decal)) additional vehicle use permits from the department ((for each additional vehicle owned by the person)) at a cost of five dollars per ((decal upon a showing of proof to the department that the person owns the additional vehicle or vehicles)) vehicle use permit.  Revenue derived from the sale of fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permits shall be used solely for the stewardship and maintenance of department improved access facilities.

    Youth groups may use department improved access facilities without possessing a vehicle use permit when accompanied by a vehicle use permit holder.

    The department may accept contributions into the state wildlife fund for the sound stewardship of fish and wildlife.  Contributors shall be known as "conservation patrons" and, for contributions of twenty dollars or more, shall receive a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit free of charge.

    (2) ((The decal must be affixed in a permanent manner to the motor vehicle before entering upon or using the motor vehicle on a department improved access facility, and must be displayed on the rear window of the motor vehicle, or, if the motor vehicle does not have a rear window, on the rear of the motor vehicle.

    (3))) Failure to display the fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit if required by this section is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW, and department employees are authorized to issue a notice of infraction to the registered owner of any motor vehicle entering upon or using a department improved access facility without such a ((decal)) permit.  The penalty for failure to display or improper display of the ((decal)) permit is sixty-six dollars.

(3) The commission may adopt those rules that are necessary to implement, administer, and enforce the fish and wildlife vehicle use permit program.  The rules may include methods for issuing vehicle use permits and for ensuring that vehicle use permits are properly displayed or affixed.

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