BILL REQ. #:  S-1478.3 

Read first time 02/21/2005.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to the payment of motor vehicle gross weight fees; amending RCW 46.16.135; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the transportation of farm goods is a vital component to the state's economic stability, development, and prosperity. The legislature further finds that the option of purchasing monthly and semiannual gross weight permits provides a flexible solution to accommodate transportation needs related to the transport of farm goods. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to ensure that the monthly and semiannual vehicle licensing permits fees accurately correspond to the amount of permit time purchased for farm equipment.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.16.135 and 1986 c 18 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The annual vehicle licensing fees as provided in RCW 46.16.070 or 46.16.090 for any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles having a declared gross weight in excess of twelve thousand pounds may be paid for any full registration month or months, except as provided in (b) of this subsection, at one-twelfth of the usual annual fee plus two dollars, this sum to be multiplied by the number of full months for which the fees are paid if for less than a full year. An additional fee of two dollars shall be collected each time a license fee is paid.
     (b) For the first month that vehicle license fees are paid pursuant to this section based on the licensing fees under RCW 46.16.090, the fee shall be reduced. The reduced amount shall equal one-twelfth of the usual annual fee plus two dollars, the sum of which shall be multiplied by a factor. The factor shall equal the number of days that a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles is actually licensed under this section during the first registration month divided by the total number of days in the registration month.
     (2) Operation of a vehicle licensed under the provisions of this section by any person upon the public highways after the expiration of the monthly license is a traffic infraction, and in addition the person shall be required to pay a license fee for the vehicle involved covering an entire registration year's operation, less the fees for any registration month or months of the registration year already paid. If, within five days, no license fee for a full registration year has been paid as required aforesaid, the Washington state patrol, county sheriff, or city police shall impound such vehicle in such manner as may be directed for such cases by the chief of the Washington state patrol, until such requirement is met.