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.
