FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6255

                                  C 138 L 88

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators West, Patterson, Smith, Zimmerman, Benitz and Barr)

Creating a zone where interstate trip permits are not required.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committe on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

For many years there has been an informal agreement between the vehicle licensing departments in the states of Idaho and Washington that vehicles registered in one state need not register in the other state when operating on certain border highways.  The requirement that a vehicle must be fully registered, prorated or purchase a vehicle trip permit is waived.

A four-mile segment of SR 195 from Pullman to Lewiston/Clarkston makes a loop into Idaho.  Through an informal agreement, the state of Idaho has not required Washington-based vehicles to register in Idaho or purchase an Idaho vehicle trip permit.  Conversely, Washington does not require Idaho vehicles to register or purchase a vehicle trip permit when operating on SR 95 between Lewiston and Clarkston.  Occasionally the informal system breaks down when new law enforcement personnel are transferred to the area.  The Department of Licensing has reciprocity powers and is now in the process of negotiating an agreement with Idaho which will formalize the current practice.

Formalizing the vehicle licensing agreement solves only part of the problem. A common or contract carrier must register its vehicles with the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission (UTC) or purchase a vehicle regulatory trip permit when travelling on Washington highways.  The permit is issued in lieu of the annual regulatory and stamp fees and authorizes a one-way trip into, out of, or across the state for a fee of $10.  By law, the UTC is required to register or issue a trip permit to an Idaho carrier when travelling between Lewiston and Clarkston.  The UTC does not have reciprocity powers and therefore cannot enter into an agreement with Idaho to waive the permit requirement.

SUMMARY:

The Utilities and Transportation Commission may enter into a reciprocity agreement with Idaho for purposes of waiving the regulatory registration requirements in a designated bordering area if the same privilege is afforded Washington-based common and contract carriers.  The initial designation border area is the four-mile segment of SR 195 from the Idaho border to Lewiston and SR 12 from Lewiston to Clarkston.  Any future reciprocal agreements proposed by the UTC must be submitted to the Legislative Transportation Committee for approval prior to implementation.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    48     0

      House 98   0 (House amended)

      Senate    46     0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:March 18, 1988