Brief Description: Creating the "Share the Road" special vehicle license plate.

Sponsors: By Representatives Wood, Jarrett, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Wallace, Kilmer, Hankins, Haler, Hunter, Morrell, Lovick, Nixon and Ormsby.

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

The Legislature created the Special License Plate Review Board (Board) in the 2003 session to review special vehicle license plate applications from governmental or nonprofit organizations in Washington. The Board must verify the organization and proposed plate meet criteria set by state law and then forward the approved application to the Legislature.

Drivers pay an additional fee for a special vehicle license plate. The initial revenue generated from the special plate sales is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account until the state has been reimbursed for implementation costs. After reimbursement, the revenue is deposited into the account designated by the authorizing statute for the specific special vehicle license plate.

On December 10, 2004, the Board approved the Bicycle Alliance of Washington's Cooper Jones Memorial "Share the Road" license plate application.

Summary:

The Department of Licensing must issue a special vehicle license plate commemorating the life of Cooper Jones.

An applicant for a "Share the Road" license plate pays an initial fee of $40 and an annual renewal fee of $30. After reimbursement to the state, the revenue must be deposited into the Share the Road Account, which promotes bicycle safety and awareness education in communities throughout Washington.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Account is repealed. Revenue generated from the sale of the existing Cooper Jones emblems is deposited into the Share the Road Account.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   94   2
Senate   43   0   (Senate amended)
House   89   6   (House concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005
         June 30, 2007 (Section 6)