Title: An act relating to ownership of vehicle parts used in reconstruction.

Brief Description: Ensuring proper ownership to vehicle parts used in reconstruction.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Esser, Kastama and Benson.

Brief History:

Transportation: 3/23/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hudgins, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Schindler, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

Currently, when a vehicle is wrecked beyond repair or declared a total loss, the owner must surrender the title and registration to the Department of Licensing (DOL) within 15 days. Once the title and registration are surrendered, the vehicle is considered a "salvage vehicle." If the salvage vehicle is rebuilt, the DOL must issue a certificate of ownership indicating that the vehicle was rebuilt.

A physical examination, by the Washington State Patrol (WSP), is also required for salvage vehicles that are rebuilt. The examination must verify that the vehicle identification number is genuine and matches the number on the original documents supporting the vehicle purchase or ownership. The WSP must insure that all major component parts used for the reconstruction of a salvage vehicle were obtained legally, which may include review of invoices or notarized bills of sale.

Summary of Bill:

The invoices used to establish the legality of the used replacement component parts in a rebuilt vehicle must be from a Washington licensed vehicle wrecker or a comparable business in a jurisdiction outside of Washington. Private individuals who sell used components or parts for rebuilt vehicles must have title to the vehicles from which the parts are taken.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill closes a loophole that allows car thieves to profit from their crimes. It does this while protecting classic car collectors and other car enthusiasts who enjoy fixing their own vehicles. Last year 35,000 cars were stolen in the State of Washington, and people profit from these crimes by selling the cars for parts or using them to rebuild vehicles. Senate Bill 5181 eliminates the profit by tracking parts and insuring that they come from licensed facilities that are inspected by the DOL. No one is opposed to this bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Jim King, Independent Business Association; and Don Phelps, AAA Auto Wrecking Auto Recyclers Of Washington.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.