Brief Description: Making technical corrections to chapter 46.87 RCW.

Sponsors: Representatives Wallace and Woods; by request of Department of Licensing.

Hearing Date: 1/31/05

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

The International Registration Plan is an interstate compact that allows commercial vehicles to register in one state and legally operate in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces. The company registers their fleet in their "base" state, the state where their business resides.

The base state issues a certificate of registration called a "cab card," and prorates and distributes the registration fees and fuel taxes for all states and Canadian provinces in which the vehicles travel. If Washington is a company's base state, the Department of Licensing charges an administrative fee of $4.50 per vehicle. Miles are reported, and fuel taxes are collected and distributed, each fiscal year.

Chapter 46.87 RCW administers the registration of companies and vehicles operating under the International Registration Plan. This chapter of law covers issues such as registration fee computation (which is based on gross weight) and reporting requirements

Summary of Bill:

Obsolete or inaccurate language is revised or removed from chapter 46.87 RCW, including:

• Removal of references to the Western Compact, which was replaced by the International Registration Plan.
• Language regarding the fee for registration of trailers is deleted. In order to simplify the registration fee process, the International Reciprocity Agreement requires both the power unit and trailer to be registered, but the trailer has fee reciprocity.
• Language is removed regarding the calculation of mileage estimates upon initial application, which is now standardized under the International Registration Plan.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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