SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6063

As Passed Senate, March 2, 2004

Title: An act relating to fees for vehicle-related businesses.

Brief Description: Adjusting vehicle-related business fees.

Sponsors: Senators Horn, Haugen, Swecker, Jacobsen, Finkbeiner, Spanel and McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 4/3/03, 4/7/03 [DPA].

Passed Senate: 4/15/03, 41-3; 3/2/04, 41-5.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

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

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Registered Tow Truck Operators (RTTO) engage in the business of impounding, transporting and storage of unauthorized and abandoned vehicles. The current annual registration fee for an RTTO is $100.

Motor vehicle dealers engage in the business of buying, selling, listing, brokering, leasing, auctioning, and advertising the sale of new or used vehicles. The annual fee for renewal of a vehicle dealer license fee is currently $250, and the renewal of a vehicle dealer permanent subagency license is $25. The fee to change a vehicle dealer's name is $25.

The original license fee for vehicle manufacturers is $500.

The original license fee for transporters is currently $25, and the annual renewal fee is $15. Vehicle wreckers engage in the business of buying and selling vehicles for the purpose of wrecking, dismantling, or disassembling vehicles. The original license fee for vehicle wreckers is $25, and the annual renewal fee is $15. Hulk haulers transport and/or sell vehicles to wreckers or scrap processors. The original license fee and renewal fee for a hulk hauler are both currently $10.

Summary of Bill: The following fees are increased to cover the cost of regulating business activities related to motor vehicles: RTTO annual tow truck fee; motor vehicle dealer renewal fee; motor vehicle dealer permanent subagency renewal fee; motor vehicle dealer name change and address change fees; vehicle manufacturer original license fee; transporter original license and renewal fees; vehicle wreckers original license and renewal fee; and hulk hauler original license and renewal fees.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on April 3, 2003.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.