BILL REQ. #:  Z-0649.1 

Read first time 01/30/09.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to motor carrier regulation and compliance review; amending RCW 46.32.080, 46.32.085, 46.32.090, and 46.32.100; adding a new section to chapter 46.32 RCW; and repealing 2007 c 419 s 18 (uncodified).

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.32.080 and 2007 c 419 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The Washington state patrol is responsible for enforcement of safety requirements for commercial motor vehicles including, but not limited to, safety audits and compliance reviews. Those motor carriers that have operations in this state are subject to the patrol's safety audits and compliance review programs. Compliance reviews may result in the initiation of an enforcement action, which may include monetary penalties. The utilities and transportation commission is responsible for adoption and enforcement of safety requirements for vehicles operated by entities holding authority under chapters 81.66, 81.68, 81.70, and 81.77 RCW, and by household goods carriers holding authority under chapter 81.80 RCW.
     (2) Motor vehicles owned and operated by farmers in the transportation of their own farm, orchard, or dairy products, including livestock and plant or animal wastes, from point of production to market or disposal, or supplies or commodities to be used on the farm, orchard, or dairy, must have a department of transportation number, as defined in RCW 46.16.004, but are exempt from safety audits and compliance reviews.
     (3) All records and documents required of motor carriers with operations in this state must be available for review and inspection during normal business hours. Duly authorized agents of the state patrol conducting safety audits and compliance reviews may enter the motor carrier's place of business, or any location where records or equipment are located, at reasonable times and without advanced notice. Motor carriers who do not permit duly authorized agents to enter their place of business, or any location where records or equipment are located, for safety audits and compliance reviews are subject to enforcement action, including a monetary penalty.
     (4)(a) All motor carriers with a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.16.004, that operate in this state must apply for a department of transportation number, as defined in RCW 46.16.004, by January 1, 2008. All entities with authority under chapters 81.66, 81.68, 81.70, and 81.77 RCW, and all household goods carriers with authority under chapter 81.80 RCW, must apply for a department of transportation number by January 1, 2010.
     (b) All motor carriers operating in this state who (i) have not applied under (a) of this subsection for a department of transportation number, as defined in RCW 46.16.004, and (ii) have a commercial motor vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating of 7,258 kilograms (16,001 pounds) or more, must apply for a department of transportation number by January 1, 2011.
     (c) The state patrol may deny an application if the ((motor carrier)) applicant does not meet the requirements and standards under this chapter. The state patrol shall not issue a department of transportation number to ((a motor carrier)) an applicant who at the time of application has been placed out of service by the federal motor carrier safety administration. Commercial motor vehicles must be marked as prescribed by the state patrol. Those ((motor carriers)) applicants with a current United States department of transportation number are exempt from applying for a department of transportation number.
     (d) The state patrol may (i) place a motor carrier out of service or (ii) refuse to issue or recognize as valid a department of transportation number to ((a motor carrier)) an applicant who: (A) Formerly held a department of transportation number that was placed out of service for cause, and where cause has not been removed; (B) is a subterfuge for the real party in interest whose department of transportation number was placed out of service for cause, and where cause has not been removed; (C) as an individual licensee, or officer, director, owner, or managing employee of a nonindividual licensee, had a department of transportation number and was placed out of service for cause, and where cause has not been removed; or (D) has an unsatisfied debt to the state assessed under this chapter.
     (e) Upon a finding by the chief of the state patrol or the chief's designee that a motor carrier is an imminent hazard or danger to the public health, safety, or welfare, the state patrol shall notify the department, and the department shall revoke the registrations for all commercial motor vehicles that are owned by the motor carrier subject to RCW 46.32.080. In determining whether a motor carrier is an imminent hazard or danger to the public health, safety, or welfare, the chief or the chief's designee shall consider safety factors.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.32.085 and 2007 c 419 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The Washington state patrol, in consultation with the department of licensing, shall adopt rules consistent with this chapter to regulate vehicle safety requirements for motor carriers who own, control, manage, or operate a commercial motor vehicle within this state. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the rules adopted by the state patrol under this section must be as rigorous as federal regulations governing certain interstate motor carriers at 49 C.F.R. Parts 40 and 380 through 397, which cover the areas of commercial motor carrier driver training, controlled substance and alcohol use and testing, compliance with the federal driver's license requirements and penalties, vehicle equipment and safety standards, hazardous material practices, financial responsibility, driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle inspection and corrective actions, and assessed penalties for noncompliance. The state patrol shall amend these rules periodically to maintain, to the extent permissible under this chapter, standards as rigorous as the federal regulations governing certain interstate motor carriers. The state patrol shall submit a report to the legislature by December 31st of each year that outlines new rules or rule changes and explains how the state rules compare to the federal regulations.
     (2) Motor vehicles operated by entities with authority under chapters 81.66, 81.68, 81.70, and 81.77 RCW, and by household goods carriers operating under chapter 81.80 RCW, must comply with rules regulating vehicle safety adopted by the utilities and transportation commission.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.32.090 and 2007 c 419 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department shall collect a fee of sixteen dollars, in addition to all other fees and taxes, for each motor vehicle base plated in the state of Washington that is subject to highway inspections and compliance reviews by the state patrol under RCW 46.32.080, at the time of registration and renewal of registration under chapter 46.16 or 46.87 RCW, or the international registration plan if base plated in a foreign jurisdiction. The fee must be apportioned for those vehicles operating interstate and registered under the international registration plan. This fee does not apply to nonmotor-powered vehicles, including trailers. Refunds will not be provided for fees paid under this section when the vehicle is no longer subject to RCW 46.32.080. The department may deduct an amount equal to the cost of administering the program. All remaining fees shall be deposited with the state treasurer and credited to the state patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund.

Sec. 4   RCW 46.32.100 and 2007 c 419 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) In addition to all other penalties provided by law, and except as provided otherwise in (a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this subsection, a commercial motor vehicle that is subject to compliance reviews under this chapter and an officer, agent, or employee of a company operating a commercial motor vehicle who violates or who procures, aids, or abets in the violation of this title or any order or rule of the state patrol is liable for a penalty of one hundred dollars for each violation((, except for each violation)).
     (i) It is a violation of this chapter for a person operating a commercial motor vehicle to fail to comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Pt. 382, controlled substances and alcohol use and testing, 49 C.F.R. Sec. 391.15, disqualification of drivers, and 49 C.F.R. Sec. 396.9(c)(2), moving a vehicle placed out of service before the out of service defects have been satisfactorily repaired((, for which)). For each violation the person is liable for a penalty of five hundred dollars.
     (ii) The driver of a commercial motor vehicle who violates an out-of-service order is liable for a penalty of at least one thousand one hundred dollars but not more than two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars for each violation.
     (iii) An employer who allows a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle when there is an out-of-service order is liable for a penalty of at least two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars but not more than eleven thousand dollars for each violation.
     (iv) Each violation under this subsection (1)(a) is a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation every day's continuance is a separate and distinct violation.
     (b) In addition to all other penalties provided by law, any motor carrier, company, or any officer or agent of a motor carrier or company operating a commercial motor vehicle subject to compliance reviews under this chapter who refuses entry or to make the required records, documents, and vehicles available to a duly authorized agent of the state patrol is liable for a penalty of at least five thousand dollars as well as an out-of-service order being placed on the department of transportation number, as defined in RCW 46.16.004, and vehicle registration to operate. Each violation is a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation every day's continuance is a separate and distinct violation.
     (c) A motor carrier operating a commercial motor vehicle after receiving a final unsatisfactory rating or being placed out of service is liable for a penalty of not more than eleven thousand dollars for each violation. Each violation is a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation every day's continuance is a separate and distinct violation.
     (d) A high-risk carrier is liable for double the amount of the penalty of a prior violation if the high-risk carrier repeats the same violation during a follow-up compliance review. Each repeat violation is a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a repeat continuing violation every day's continuance is a separate and distinct violation.
     (2) The Washington state patrol may place an out-of-service order on a department of transportation number, as defined in RCW 46.16.004, for violations of this chapter or for nonpayment of any monetary penalties assessed by the state patrol or the utilities and transportation commission, as a result of compliance reviews, or for violations of cease and desist orders issued by the utilities and transportation commission. The state patrol shall notify the department of licensing when an out-of-service order has been placed on a motor carrier's department of transportation number. The state patrol shall notify the motor carrier when there has been an out-of-service order placed on the motor carrier's department of transportation number and the vehicle registrations have been revoked by sending a notice by first-class mail using the last known address for the registered or legal owner or owners, and recording the transmittal on an affidavit of first-class mail. Notices under this section fulfill the requirements of RCW 46.12.160. Motor carriers may not be eligible for a new department of transportation number, vehicle registration, or temporary permits to operate unless the violations that resulted in the out-of-service order have been corrected.
     (3) Any penalty provided in this section is due and payable when the person incurring it receives a notice in writing from the state patrol describing the violation and advising the person that the penalty is due. ((If the amount of the penalty is not paid to the state patrol within twenty days after the later of (a) receipt of the notice imposing the penalty, or (b) disposition of an adjudicative proceeding regarding the penalty, the state patrol may commence an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW in the name of the state of Washington to confirm the violation and recover the penalty.))
     (a)(i) Any motor carrier who incurs a penalty as provided in this section, except for a high-risk carrier that incurs a penalty for a repeat violation during a follow-up compliance review, may, upon written application, request that the state patrol mitigate the penalty. An application for mitigation must be received by the state patrol within twenty days of the receipt of notice.
     (ii) The state patrol may decline to consider any application for mitigation.
     (b) Any motor carrier who incurs a penalty as provided in this section has a right to an administrative hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW to contest the violation or the penalty imposed, or both. In all such ((proceedings)) hearings, the procedure and rules of evidence are as specified in chapter 34.05 RCW except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Any request for an administrative hearing must be made in writing and must be received by the state patrol within twenty days after the later of (i) receipt of the notice imposing the penalty, or (ii) disposition of a request for mitigation, or the right to a hearing is waived.
     (c) All penalties recovered under this section shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the state patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   2007 c 419 s 18 (uncodified) is repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 46.32 RCW to read as follows:
     This chapter does not apply to vehicles exempted from registration by RCW 46.16.020.