SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5100

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.

As Amended by House, April 8, 2015

Title: An act relating to processing certain motor vehicle-related violations applicable to rental cars.

Brief Description: Concerning the processing of certain motor vehicle-related violations applicable to rental cars.

Sponsors: Senators Hobbs and King.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/22/15, 1/26/15 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/09/15, 47-2.Passed House: 4/08/15, 95-2.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators King, Chair; Fain, Vice Chair; Hobbs, Ranking Minority Member; Baumgartner, Cleveland, Ericksen, Habib, Jayapal, Miloscia, Pedersen, Rivers and Sheldon.

Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

Background: Under current law, local jurisdictions and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may report the following violations to the Department of Licensing (DOL) for purposes of withholding vehicle registration renewals applicable to the vehicle at issue:ŸŸ

However, these reporting provisions do not apply if the vehicle at issue is a rented or leased vehicle.

Rental car businesses are relieved of liability for the violations by forwarding the renter's name and address to the jurisdiction or WSDOT in a timely manner.

Local courts may refer unpaid monetary obligations attached to parking or camera violations to a collections agency, which include violations involving a rented or leased vehicle. This provision applies to whomever is ultimately liable for the violation – the rental car business or the renter.

Summary of Bill: The exception for rented or leased vehicles from the DOL reporting process for unpaid parking, camera, and toll violations is removed. This has the effect of allowing local jurisdictions and WSDOT to report unpaid parking, camera, or toll violations, for which rental car businesses are liable, to DOL for purposes of withholding vehicle registration renewals applicable to the vehicle at issue.

Consistent with language found in the automated camera statutes, language is added clarifying that if a rental car business forwards the renter's name and address to the jurisdiction, liability for an unpaid parking infraction transfers to the renter.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill resulted from a KING 5 news story last year regarding large numbers of unpaid parking tickets on rental cars. The sponsor worked with stakeholders in drafting this legislation as a way to encourage the collection of unpaid vehicle-related violations applicable to rental cars.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Hobbs, prime sponsor.

House Amendment(s): Restores language describing the types of infractions for which, when issued to a rental car, the rental car company may be relieved of liability, under certain circumstances.