SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5961

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, March 6, 2003

Title: An act relating to aircraft registration violation penalties.

Brief Description: Specifying penalties for aircraft registration violations.

Sponsors: Senators Horn, Haugen and Finkbeiner.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 3/6/03 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5961 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Finkbeiner, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Prentice and Spanel.

Staff: Dean Carlson (786-7305)

Background: Under current law, every pilot who is a resident of this state and every nonresident pilot who regularly operates any aircraft in this state must be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT). Additionally, every airman and airwoman who is a resident of the state and every nonresident airman or airwoman regularly performing duties as an airman or airwoman must also register with DOT. Further, every aircraft that is operated or based within this state must be registered with DOT.

Pilots, airmen, airwomen, and persons who own aircraft are subject to a gross misdemeanor for failure to register with DOT; in addition, the courts may prohibit a violator from operating an aircraft within the state for up to one year.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Any person who fails to register an aircraft as required by law is subject to a civil penalty of $100 for the first violation. The second violation within the same year is subject to a civil penalty of $200, and third and subsequent violations are subject to a civil penalty of $400 per aircraft.

Failure to register as a pilot, airman or airwoman as required by law is subject to a civil penalty of four times the fees that are due.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: This bill will help increase registration and will help maintain a strong aviation system. This is the first step in the issue of enforcement. This bill will help increase the compliance rate for aircraft and pilot registration.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Al Banholzer, private pilot (pro); H. Smith, Washington Pilots Association (pro); John Sibold, WSDOT (pro).