BILL REQ. #:  H-4426.1 

Read first time 01/24/2006.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to a front license plate exemption fee; reenacting and amending RCW 46.16.240; and adding a new section to chapter 46.16 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 46.16.240 and 1987 c 330 s 704 and 1987 c 142 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The vehicle license number plates shall be attached conspicuously at the front and rear of each vehicle for which the same are issued and in such a manner that they can be plainly seen and read at all times: PROVIDED, That if only one license number plate is legally issued for any vehicle such plate shall be conspicuously attached to the rear of such vehicle. The operator of a vehicle is exempt from attaching a vehicle license number plate at the front of the vehicle if the operator agrees to pay a fee of seventy-five dollars to the department. Each vehicle license number plate shall be placed or hung in a horizontal position at a distance of not less than one foot nor more than four feet from the ground and shall be kept clean so as to be plainly seen and read at all times: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in cases where the body construction of the vehicle is such that compliance with this section is impossible, permission to deviate therefrom may be granted by the state patrol. It shall be unlawful to display upon the front or rear of any vehicle, vehicle license number plate or plates other than those furnished by the director for such vehicle or to display upon any vehicle any vehicle license number plate or plates which have been in any manner changed, altered, disfigured or have become illegible. License plate frames may be used on vehicle license number plates only if the frames do not obscure license tabs or identifying letters or numbers on the plates and the plates can be plainly seen and read at all times. It is unlawful to use any holders, frames, or any materials that in any manner change, alter, or make the vehicle license number plates illegible. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle unless there shall be displayed thereon valid vehicle license number plates attached, with the exception of the front license plate exemption, as herein provided.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     The law enforcement vehicle theft account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from the front license plate exemption fee under RCW 46.16.240, minus reasonable administrative costs, must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for fighting vehicle theft.