H-863                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 309

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Zellinsky, Schmidt, Meyers, Pruitt, Sayan, Grant, Vekich and P. King

Read first time 1/23/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to vehicles over forty years old; and amending RCW 46.16.310 and 46.37.500.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 46.16.310, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 1, chapter 143, Laws of 1982 and RCW 46.16.310 are each amended to read as follows:

          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any motor vehicle which is not less than ((40)) forty years old and is owned and operated primarily as a collector's item shall, upon application and acceptance in the manner and at the time prescribed by the department, be issued a special commemorative license plate in lieu of the regular license plates.  Any vehicles to be so licensed must be in good running order.  In addition to paying all other initial fees required by law, each applicant shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars, which fee shall entitle him to one permanent license plate valid for the life of the vehicle.  The single plate shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.

          The registration numbers and special license plates assigned to such motor vehicles shall run in a separate numerical series, commencing with "Horseless Carriage No. 1."  The plates shall be of a distinguishing color.

          In the event of defacement, loss, or destruction of such special plate, the owner shall apply for a replacement plate in the same manner as prescribed by law for the replacement of regular plates.

          All fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the motor vehicle fund.

        Sec. 2.  Section 46.37.500, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 41, chapter 355, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 46.37.500 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((No person shall)) (1) Except as authorized under subsection (2) of this section, no person may operate any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is not equipped with fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons adequate for minimizing the spray or splash of water or mud from the roadway to the rear of the vehicle.  All such devices shall be as wide as the tires behind which they are mounted and extend downward at least to the center of the axle.

(2) A motor vehicle that is not less than forty years old and is owned and operated primarily as a collector's item need not be equipped with fenders when the vehicle is used and driven during fair weather on well-maintained, hard-surfaced roads.