BILL REQ. #:  H-1929.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/03/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to collector vehicles; amending RCW 46.16.015; adding new sections to chapter 46.16 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An individual may purchase up to two collector vehicles per year that are production vehicles manufactured by a major vehicle manufacturer that meet the following criteria:
     (a) Are rated for at least forty miles per gallon;
     (b) Are not currently produced in the United States;
     (c) Meet or exceed federal clean air standards at the time of importation; and
     (d) The purchaser is not a vehicle dealer and the vehicles are not purchased for resale.
     (2) The department shall title and register these vehicles as collector vehicles regardless of age along with issuing collector license plates. The vehicles must display collector license plates on the front and rear of the vehicle, except for motorcycles and scooters which must display one collector license plate on the rear of the vehicle. The payment of the initial fees as required under this chapter and the additional special license plate fee established by the department are valid for the life of the vehicle for which the application is approved by the department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     If a collector vehicle as described under section 1 of this act becomes a production vehicle in the United States or if section 1 of this act is repealed, the collector vehicle will retain its collector vehicle status.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.16.015 and 2002 c 24 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Neither the department of licensing nor its agents may issue or renew a motor vehicle license for any vehicle or change the registered owner of a licensed vehicle, for any vehicle that is required to be inspected under chapter 70.120 RCW, unless the application for issuance or renewal is: (a) Accompanied by a valid certificate of compliance or a valid certificate of acceptance issued pursuant to chapter 70.120 RCW; or (b) exempted from this requirement pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The certificates must have a date of validation which is within six months of the date of application for the vehicle license or license renewal. Certificates for fleet or owner tested diesel vehicles may have a date of validation which is within twelve months of the assigned license renewal date.
     (2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the following vehicles:
     (a) New motor vehicles whose equitable or legal title has never been transferred to a person who in good faith purchases the vehicle for purposes other than resale;
     (b) Motor vehicles with a model year of 1967 or earlier;
     (c) Motor vehicles that use propulsion units powered exclusively by electricity;
     (d) Motor vehicles fueled by propane, compressed natural gas, or liquid petroleum gas, unless it is determined that federal sanctions will be imposed as a result of this exemption;
     (e) Motorcycles as defined in RCW 46.04.330 and motor-driven cycles as defined in RCW 46.04.332;
     (f) Farm vehicles as defined in RCW 46.04.181;
     (g) Used vehicles which are offered for sale by a motor vehicle dealer licensed under chapter 46.70 RCW;
     (h) Classes of motor vehicles exempted by the director of the department of ecology;
     (i) Collector cars as identified by the department of licensing under RCW 46.16.305(1);
     (j) Beginning January 1, 2000, vehicles that are less than five years old or more than twenty-five years old; ((or))
     (k) Hybrid motor vehicles that obtain a rating by the environmental protection agency of at least fifty miles per gallon of gas during city driving. For purposes of this section, a hybrid motor vehicle is one that uses propulsion units powered by both electricity and gas; or
     (l) Collector vehicles in production in countries outside the United States that are rated for at least forty miles per gallon.
     The provisions of (a) of this subsection may not be construed as exempting from the provisions of subsection (1) of this section applications for the renewal of licenses for motor vehicles that are or have been leased.
     (3) The department of ecology shall provide information to motor vehicle owners regarding the boundaries of emission contributing areas and restrictions established under this section that apply to vehicles registered in such areas. In addition the department of ecology shall provide information to motor vehicle owners on the relationship between motor vehicles and air pollution and steps motor vehicle owners should take to reduce motor vehicle related air pollution. The department of licensing shall send to all registered motor vehicle owners affected by the emission testing program notice that they must have an emission test to renew their registration.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act applies to registrations due or to become due on or after January 1, 2010.