Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 2482

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Creating a fee exemption for the disclosure of vehicle owner information.

Sponsors: Representatives Klippert and Clibborn.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Exempts a business entity that is licensed as a vehicle wrecker from the $2 fee charged by the Department of Licensing for a name and address request of a vehicle owner.

Hearing Date: 1/29/14

Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).

Background:

The name or address of an individual vehicle owner can not be released by the Department of Licensing (DOL), county auditor, or agency or firm authorized by the DOL except under the following circumstances:

If both a mailing address and residence address are recorded on the vehicle record and are different, only the mailing address will be disclosed. Both addresses will be disclosed in response to requests for disclosure from courts, law enforcement agencies, or government entities with enforcement, investigative, or taxing authority.Any person who is furnished vehicle owner information will be responsible for assuring that the information furnished is not used for a purpose that is contrary to the agreement between the person and the DOL.

The DOL shall charge a fee of $2 for each record returned pursuant to a request made by a business entity and deposit the fee into the Highway Safety Account.

The disclosing entity must retain the request for disclosure for three years.

Summary of Bill:

A business entity that is licensed as a vehicle wrecker means a person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation engaged in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in vehicles of a type required to be registered under state laws, for the purpose of wrecking, dismantling, disassembling, or substantially changing the form of a vehicle, or who buys or sells integral secondhand parts of component material thereof, in whole or in part, or who deals in secondhand vehicle parts is exempt from the from the $2 fee charged by DOL for a name and address request of a vehicle owner.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.