AN ACT Relating to vehicle impoundment; amending RCW 46.55.010; and adding a new section to chapter 46.55 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 377, Laws of 1985 and RCW 46.55.010 are each amended to read as follows:

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter:

(1) "Abandoned vehicle" means a vehicle that a registered tow truck operator has impounded and held in his possession for ninety-six consecutive hours.

(2) "Abandoned vehicle report" means the document prescribed by the state that the towing operator forwards to the department after a vehicle has become abandoned.

(3) "Commission" means the state commission on equipment established under RCW 46.37.005.

(4) "Impound" means to take and hold a vehicle in legal custody. There are two types of impounds--public and private.

(a) "Public impound" means that the vehicle has been impounded at the direction of a law enforcement officer or other public official having jurisdiction over the public property upon which the vehicle was located.

(b) "Private impound" means that the vehicle has been impounded at the direction of a person having control or possession of the private property upon which the vehicle was located.

(c) "On-site impound" means that the vehicle is impounded at the site of the violation by attaching a device to the vehicle that restricts its movement.

(5) "Junk vehicle" means a motor vehicle certified under RCW 46.55.230 as meeting all the following requirements:

(a) Is three years old or older;

(b) Is extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any of the following: A broken window or windshield or missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission;

(d) Is without a valid, current registration plate;

(e) Has a fair market value equal only to the value of the scrap in it.

(6) "Registered tow truck operator" or "operator" means any person who engages in the impounding, transporting, or storage of unauthorized vehicles or the disposal of abandoned vehicles.

(7) "Residential property" means property that has no more than four living units located on it.

(8) "Tow truck" means a motor vehicle that is equipped for and used in the business of towing vehicles with equipment as approved by the commission.

(9) "Tow truck number" means the number issued by the department to tow trucks used by a registered tow truck operator in the state of Washington.

(10) "Tow truck permit" means the permit issued annually by the department that has the classification of service the tow truck may provide stamped upon it.

(11) "Tow truck service" means the transporting upon the public streets and highways of this state of unauthorized vehicles, together with personal effects and cargo, by a tow truck of a registered operator.

(12) "Unauthorized vehicle" means a vehicle that is subject to impoundment after being left unattended in one of the following public or private locations for the indicated period of time:

!tp3,1 !tcSubject!sc ,1to!sc ,1removal!sc ,1after:

!ix(a) Public locations:

!ix(i) Constituting a traffic hazard as

!sc ,3defined in RCW 46.61.565!w× !tlImmediately

!ix(ii) On a highway and tagged as

!sc ,3described in RCW 46.52.170 !w× !tl24 hours

!ix(iii) In a publicly owned or controlled

!sc ,3parking facility, properly posted

!sc ,3under RCW 46.55.070!w× !tlImmediately

!ix(b) Private locations:

!ix(i) On residential property!w× !tlImmediately

!ix(ii) On private, nonresidential property,

!sc ,3properly posted under RCW 46.55.070!w× !tlImmediately

!ix(iii) On private, nonresidential property,

!sc ,3not posted!w× !tl24 hours!te

!ix

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added tochapter 46.55 RCW to read as follows:

An on-site impound may be performed only by a registered tow truck operator. The provisions of RCW 46.55.070 apply to on-site impounds. The device shall be marked with the information required by that section.

The tow truck operator may collect the garage keeper's lien on the vehicle if the operator presents the person redeeming the vehicle an itemized invoice of charges against the vehicle. RCW 46.55.120 applies to vehicles impounded on site. When the impoundment device is removed, the tow truck operator shall provide the forms required by that section.