Brief Description: Providing additional funding for the state patrol highway account.

Sponsors: Senators Murray and Haugen.

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: Under current law, residents of this state must register vehicles that are operated on the public highways. A temporary permit to operate a vehicle for which application for registration has been made may be issued by licensed vehicle dealers. The permit costs $5, is paid by the dealer, and is credited to the registration fees at the time application for registration is made by the dealer.

Vehicle dealers are authorized to charge a documentary service fee of up to $35 per vehicle sale or lease. In order to charge the document service fee, vehicle dealers must observe the following conditions: (1) the service fee must be disclosed in writing before the execution of a purchase and sale or lease agreement; (2) the service fee is not represented to the buyer as a fee or charge required by the state to be paid by either the dealer or the buyer; (3) the service fee must be separately designated from the selling price of the vehicle and from any other taxes, fees, or charges; and (4) dealers must disclose in any advertisement that a document service fee of up to $35 may be added to the sale price of a vehicle.

Summary: The fee for a temporary permit is raised to $15 and the documentary service fee is raised to $50 per vehicle sale or lease.

Revenue derived from the fee increase on temporary permits is deposited in the State Patrol Highway Account.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   1
House      83   11

Effective:   August 1, 2007