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:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/7/05, 2/9/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/9/05, 45-2.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken and Oke.

Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)

Background: Under current law, 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 is surrendered to the DOL on the grounds of being a total loss, 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 agrees with the number shown on the original documents supporting the vehicle purchase or ownership. WSP must ensure that all major component parts used for the reconstruction of a salvage vehicle were obtained legally, which may include invoices or notarized bills of sale.

Summary of Bill: The invoices, used to establish the legality of the used replaced component parts used, 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.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Car thieves receive a lot of money by stealing vehicles and selling the parts. This legislation will help to get a handle on the trafficking of stolen auto parts.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor; Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; Don Phelps, Auto Recycles of Washington.