SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5423

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Peterson, Metcalf, Patterson, Johnson, Garrett and Bender)

Reinstating special consular license plates.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 10, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5423 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Hansen, Vice Chairman; Tanner, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Barr, Bender, Garrett, Johnson, Nelson, Patterson, Smitherman, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Cathy Mayo (786-7304)

                  April 18, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 17, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Until last year the Department of Licensing issued special license plates to the licensed honorary consuls of foreign governments.  The consuls paid all vehicle registration fees plus a $25 special plate fee.  The plates were distinguished by the letters "DC" followed by four numerals.

In May of 1985 the U.S. Department of State took over the issuance of consul plates to all "official" foreign consulates. The Washington State Legislature repealed the issuance of all honorary consul plates because it had been advised that the U.S. Department of State recommended discontinuance of the practice of state issuance of honorary consul plates.  It appears that this information was not correct, and that the U.S. Department of State had simply left this matter to the discretion of the individual states.

An honorary consul of a foreign government serves in the same capacity for that government as does an official career consul, but without full compensation.  According to the state Office of Trade and Economic Development, the consuls are important to the trade and commerce of the state.  The Department is requesting reinstatement of the special plate because Washington State does not have many ways in which to show the consuls the importance of international relationships.

Of the thirty consular offices in Seattle, twenty-three are honorary consuls.  There are only a few service career consuls living in Seattle because an official consulate is an expense to the originating country, and Seattle is not viewed as a key city to some foreign countries.

SUMMARY:

Every honorary consul or official representative of a foreign country, duly licensed and holding an exequatur issued by the U.S. Department of State, is entitled to apply to the Director of the Department of Licensing (DOL) for a special license plate.

The applicant shall pay the regular license fee and excise tax.  The special $25 fee for the consular plate is deleted because the time and costs required to complete the programming for this one-time fee is excessive.  The plates may be transferred to another vehicle; however, the Director of DOL must be immediately notified of the transfer.

Language requiring the return of old honorary consul plates to the Department is amended to require that the old plates be destroyed.  By removing this provision, each applicant will receive new plates.

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Senator Metcalf, sponsor; Bill Asbury, Department of Trade and Economic Development; Ford E. Smith, Consular of Guatemala, Consular Corps of Seattle

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The House amendment clarifies that the Department of Licensing is responsible for destroying consular plates which are removed from a consular vehicle but not transferred.