Brief Description: Increasing penalties for vehicle gross weight violations.

Sponsors: Representatives Kagi, Clibborn and Dickerson.

Hearing Date: 1/26/06

Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).

Background:

Vehicle owners registering trucks with a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or more are charged a combined license fee (CLF). The CLF is based on gross vehicle weight. No vehicle or combination of vehicles can operate upon the public highways of the state with a gross load on any single axle in excess twenty thousand pounds or upon any group of axles in excess of the weight that is set forth in statute.

If found to be operating a vehicle overweight the current penalties are:

• One pound through four thousand pounds overweight is three cents per pound overweight;
• Four thousand and one pounds through ten thousand pounds overweight is one hundred and twenty dollars plus twelve cents per pound for each additional pound over four thousand pounds overweight;
• Ten thousand and one pounds through fifteen thousand pounds overweight is eight hundred and forty dollars plus sixteen cents per pound for each additional pound over ten thousand pounds overweight;
• Fifteen thousand and one pounds through twenty thousand pounds overweight is one thousand six hundred and forty dollars plus twenty cents per pound for each additional pound over fifteen thousand pounds overweight; and,
• Twenty thousand and one pounds or more is two thousand six hundred and forty dollars plus thirty cents per pound for each additional pound over twenty thousand pounds overweight.

Upon the first violation in any calendar year, the court may suspend the penalty for five hundred pounds of excess weight for each axle on any vehicle or combination of vehicles, not to exceed a two thousand pound suspension.

Summary of Bill:

Increases the penalties for overweight vehicles:

• One pound through three thousand pounds overweight is six cents for each pound overweight;
• Three thousand and one pounds through ten thousand pounds overweight is one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars plus twenty-five cents per pound for each pound over four thousand pounds overweight;
• Ten thousand and one pounds through fifteen thousand pounds overweight is two thousand five hundred dollars plus thirty five cents per pound over ten thousand pounds overweight:
• Fifteen thousand and one pounds through twenty thousand pounds overweight is four thousand dollars plus forty-five cents per pound over fifteen thousand pounds overweight; and,
• Twenty thousand and one pounds or more is five thousand five hundred dollars plus fifty five cents per pound over twenty thousand pounds overweight.

After the first violation in any calendar year where the court may suspend the penalty for five hundred pounds of excess weight for each axle on any vehicle or combination of vehicles, not two exceed a two thousand pound suspension, the penalties shall not be reduced or suspended by the courts.

Ninety percent of the overweight penalties will be distributed to the Motor Vehicle Account for increased commercial vehicle enforcement and highway maintenance due to commercial vehicle use.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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