FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5182

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.

C 232 L 13

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Addressing the disclosure of vehicle owner information.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Carrell, Harper, King, Chase, Smith, Eide, Hobbs and Schlicher).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Judiciary

House Committee on Transportation

Background: Business entities may request the name and address of individual vehicle owners for use in the course of business from the Department of Licensing (DOL). The business entity must submit the request in writing and provide the full legal name and address of the requesting party specifying the purpose for which the information will be used. The requesting party must enter into a disclosure agreement with DOL and promise that the information will be used only for the purposes stated in the request for information. Where both a mailing address and a residence address are recorded on the vehicle record and the addresses differ, only the mailing address will be disclosed to a business entity.

If DOL provides the name or address of a vehicle owner to an attorney or private investigator requesting such information, DOL must notify the vehicle owner that the information has been disclosed. The notice must include the name and address of the attorney or private investigator.

Summary: The notice that DOL provides to a vehicle owner when the owner's information has been disclosed to an attorney or private investigator must only contain the following:

In response to an inquiry from the vehicle owner, DOL is prohibited from disclosing any information about the requesting party other than whether it was an attorney or private investigator.

A fee of $2 must be collected per record returned pursuant to a request by any business entity and deposited into the Highway Safety Account.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate

46

1

House

96

1

Effective:

January 1, 2014.