Title: An act relating to vehicle fees.

Brief Description: Authorizing a vehicle scale weight fee.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Swecker and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 3/1/05.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff: David Ward (786-7341)

Background: Vehicle owners registering trucks with a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or more are charged a combined license fee (CLF). The CLF includes a licensing fee, a gross weight fee, and a filing fee. CLF vehicles in excess of 12,000 pounds are also eligible to pay a fractional CLF based on the number of months the vehicle is operated. Passage of Initiative 776 in 2002 limited the CLF to $30 for motor homes and vehicles under 10,000 pounds gross weight.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Vehicles under 10,000 pounds scale weight and motor homes are added to the CLF weight schedule. For vehicles weighing less than 4,000 pounds, the CLF remains $30 annually. For vehicles weighing 4,000 pounds but less than 6,000 pounds, the CLF rises to $40 annually (a $30 licensing fee plus a $10 weight fee). Vehicles weighing 6,000 pounds but less than 8,000 would pay a CLF of $50 annually (a $30 licensing fee plus a $20 dollar weight fee). For motor homes weighing 6,667 or more pounds scale weight, the scale weight must be multiplied by 150 percent to determine the annual CLF. Motor homes weighing 6,667 or more pounds scale weight would be eligible to purchase a fractional CLF based on the number of months the vehicle is operated. For private use trailers weighing less than 2,000 pounds scale weight, the CLF is lowered from $30 annually to $15 annually. Proceeds from the weight fee are to be deposited to the multi modal transportation account for the purpose of maintenance, repair, renovation, reconstruction, and replacement of state roads and highways or, for facilities and activities that reduce the number of vehicles or load weights on state roads and highways.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available. New fiscal note requested on March 1, 2005.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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