BILL REQ. #:  S-1685.1 

Read first time 02/16/09.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to accessing lands for outdoor recreation; and amending RCW 77.32.380.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.32.380 and 2003 c 317 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a)(i) Persons who enter upon or use clearly identified department improved access facilities with a motor vehicle may be required to display a current annual fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit on the motor vehicle while within or while using an improved access facility.
     (ii) Persons who enter upon or use clearly identified department improved access facilities with a motor vehicle displaying a Washington's wildlife, wild on Washington, or endangered wildlife special license plate authorized under chapter 46.16 RCW need not display a current annual fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit on the motor vehicle.
     (iii) An "improved access facility" is a clearly identified area specifically created for motor vehicle parking, and includes any boat launch or boat ramp associated with the parking area, but does not include the department parking facilities at the Gorge Concert Center near George, Washington.
     (b) One vehicle use permit shall be issued at no charge with an initial purchase of either an annual saltwater, freshwater, combination, small game hunting, big game hunting, or trapping license, or a watchable wildlife decal, issued by the department.
     (c) The annual fee for a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit, if purchased separately, is ten dollars.
     (d) A person to whom the department has issued a vehicle use permit or who has purchased a vehicle use permit separately may purchase additional vehicle use permits from the department at a cost of five dollars per vehicle use permit.
     (e) Revenue derived from the sale of fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permits shall be used solely for the stewardship and maintenance of department improved access facilities.
     (f) Youth groups may use department improved access facilities without possessing a vehicle use permit when accompanied by a vehicle use permit holder.
     (2) The vehicle use permit must be displayed from the interior of the motor vehicle so that it is clearly visible from outside of the motor vehicle before entering upon or using the motor vehicle on a department improved access facility. The vehicle use permit can be transferred between two vehicles and must contain space for the vehicle license numbers of each vehicle.
     (3) Failure to display the fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit if required by this section is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW, and department employees are authorized to issue a notice of infraction to the registered owner of any motor vehicle entering upon or using a department improved access facility without such a vehicle use permit. The penalty for failure to clearly display the vehicle use permit is sixty-six dollars. This penalty is reduced to thirty dollars if the registered owner provides proof to the court that he or she purchased a vehicle use permit within fifteen days after the issuance of the notice of violation.