Background:

A person cannot be issued a commercial driver's license (CDL) until they have successfully completed a course of instruction in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle or have been certified by an employer as having the skills and training necessary to operate commercial motor vehicle safely, and has passed a knowledge and skills test. An applicant must pay a fee of no more than $10 for each knowledge examination. The applicant must pay a fee of no more than $100 for the skills examination.

If the applicant's primary use of a CDL is for public benefit not-for-profit corporations that are federally supported head start programs or public not-for-profit corporations that support early childhood education and assistance programs, then the applicant must a pay a fee of no more than $75 for the skills examination.

A person who has been disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle and the appropriate disqualification time period has expired may apply for a reinstatement of a CDL with a payment of $20.

Any driver over 18 years of age with a valid driver's license can apply for a commercial driver instruction permit. To receive a commercial driver instruction permit, the person must pass a knowledge test. There is a $10 application fee. The instruction permit is valid for six months and may only be renewed only once. The person must be accompanied by another driver holding a CDL when driving a commercial vehicle. The person's CDL must be for the type of vehicle being driven and have two years' experience in driving that type of vehicle and at least five years total driving experience.

The enhanced driver license (EDL) or enhanced ID card (EID) confirms a person's identity and citizenship, and is an acceptable alternative to a passport for re-entry into the United Sates at land and sea border crossings. A person applying for an EDL must be at least 18 years old, and any age for a enhanced ID card. To upgrade from a valid Washington driver's license or ID card is $15.

Under current law, studded tires may only be used from November 1 until March 31 of each year. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may, from time to time, determine additional periods in which studded tires may be used. It is a traffic infraction, punishable by a fine of $124, to use studded tires between April 1 and November 1. In a June 30, 2012, State Materials Laboratory technical brief, the estimated damage from studded tires to the WSDOT's asphalt pavement estimates damage costs of $7.8 million to $11.3 million per year.

Counties, acting as agents of the Director of the Department of Licensing (DOL), must provide various vehicle title and registration services to the public. This includes processing a report of sale; processing a transitional ownership; processing mail-in vehicle registration renewals; issuing registration and temporary off-road vehicle use permits; issuing registration for snowmobiles; and collecting taxes and fees. The DOL may appoint privately owned businesses as licensing subagents (subagents) to process these transactions under contract with the county in which they are located. In addition to any other fees, transactions processed by a subagent are subject to a subagent service fee: $12 for a title and $5 for a registration or any other transaction. If a subagent processes a registration with a title transfer, then the fee is $12.

The owner of a vehicle must notify the DOL, the county, or a subagent when they sell or otherwise dispose of a vehicle. In order for a report of sale to be considered properly filed, it must include the date of the sale; the name and address of the seller and the buyer; the vehicle identification number and license plate number; the required fees, $3.75 if it is submitted to the county, or $8.75 if it is submitted to a subagent; and a date stamp by the DOL showing that it was received on or before the fifth business day after the date of transfer.

Summary of Bill:

The following fee increases would be imposed January 1, 2014:

Driver and Vehicle Fees	Current Fee	ESSB 5785 Fees 1/1/2014
Commercial Driver's License Requalification	$20.00	$35.00
CDL Instruction Permit	$10.00	$40.00
CDL Knowledge Exam	$10.00	$35.00
CDL Skills Exam Public Benefit Not-For-Profit (up to two exams)	$75.00	$225.00
CDL Skills Exam All Other CDLs (up to two exams)	$100.00	$250.00
Enhanced Driver's Licenses or Identicard ($9 per year if other than six years)	$15.00	$54.00
Studded Tire Permit Fee: 55 percent TIB, 45 percent CRAB	$0	$15.00
Studded Tire Penalty for not Displaying a Studded Tire Permit	$0	$15.00
Service Fee - DOL into DOL Services Account	$0	$5.00/$12.00
Service Fee - County Auditors/Agents into County's Expense Fund	$0	$5.00/$12.00

Time Period Changes	Current	ESSB 5785
Time to File a Vehicle Report of Sale	5 Days	21 Days

Payment of the CDL knowledge exam fee and the CDL classified skills exam fee entitles the individual to take the test up to two times.

If an enhanced driver's license or identicard is issued for a period other than six years, the fee is $9 per year.

The DOL, county auditor or other agent, or subagent must issue studded tire permits authorizing the use of studded tires. Each studded tire permit is valid during the registration year and the DOL will issue an identifying marker that is placed on the vehicle license plate for the studded tire permit to be valid. A studded tire permit expires with the vehicle's annual registration and may be purchased at any time during the year. Operating a vehicle without a valid permit or properly displayed marker is a traffic infraction along with a $15 penalty in which the penalty is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund. A person has five days from the date of purchasing studded tires to apply for a studded tire permit. The studded tire permit fee must be distributed with 55 percent to the Transportation Improvement Account and 45 percent to the County Arterial Preservation Account.

The DOL, a county auditor, or other agent in addition to the subagents will collect a service fee of $12 for certificate of title changes, with or without a registration renewal and $5 for a registration renewal including other services provided, including the a studded tire permit if obtained separately from the annual registration renewal. If the fees are collect by the DOL, the fees are deposited into the Department of Licensing Services Account. If the fees are paid to a county auditor or agent, then the fees must be deposited into that county's general fund.

A report of sale that is received by the DOL, county auditor or other agent, or subagent after 21 days becomes effective on the day it is received by the DOL, county auditor or other agent, or subagent.