H-608                _______________________________________________

                                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 84

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Haugen, Zellinsky, Betrozoff, Day, Braddock, K. Wilson, P. King, Taylor, Winsley and Unsoeld

Read first time 1/16/87 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.

AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle anti-theft devices and insurance; adding a new section to chapter 48.02 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that prevention of motor vehicle theft is the responsibility of the vehicle owner and operator.  The legislature further finds that many citizens have taken it upon themselves to purchase, install, and operate motor vehicle anti-theft devices, and that purchasers of new motor vehicles often have anti-theft devices as an equipment option.

          It is the intent of this act to provide for a system of motor vehicle insurance rate reductions based on the purchase and proper installation and maintenance of anti-theft devices and their likelihood for deterring motor vehicle theft.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.02 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The commissioner, jointly with the state commission on equipment, and in consultation with other persons or organizations interested in or concerned with thefts of motor vehicles, shall, pursuant to chapter 34.04 RCW:

          (a) Review the availability for purchase of motor vehicle anti-theft devices and establish a list of those devices that have been proven effective in deterring the theft of motor vehicles when properly installed, maintained, and operated; and

          (b) Provide standards for their proper installation, maintenance, and operation; and

          (c) Determine a rate for motor vehicle insurance premium reduction based on the likelihood of such devices to inhibit the act of motor vehicle theft.

          (2) Any insurance policy covering a motor vehicle duly licensed or an operator duly licensed in Washington state shall qualify for a premium rate reduction as specified in subsection (1)(c) of this section for the next and subsequent insurance periods when an approved anti-theft device has been properly installed and maintained on the insured vehicle in a manner consistent with subsection (1)(b) of this section.