HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1502

As Amended by the Senate

BYRepresentatives Walk and Schmidt; by request of Department of Transportation

Adjusting vehicle permit fees.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (21)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, R. Fisher, Gallagher, Haugen, Heavey, Jones, Kremen, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, Smith, Todd and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Special motor vehicle permits (non-reducible load overweight and over- dimensional permits) and additional tonnage permits may, under certain conditions, be issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) or its agents when a vehicle exceeds the legal height, width, length or weight limitations.

The fees for special motor vehicle and additional tonnage permits have not been increased since 1953.  The cost of administration during this period has increased significantly.  An increase in certain oversize/overweight fees will help defray the administrative cost involved in issuing these permits.

The Department contracts with 28 private businesses, some county auditors and county road departments, and the Washington State Patrol to issue special motor vehicle and additional tonnage permits in the field.  The contracting agents remit the full permit fee to the Department; the DOT, in turn, reimburses the issuing agent at a rate of $2.50 per permit.  Payments to issuing agents exceed $100,000 per year.  Other state agencies which issue licenses and permits have the statutory authority to allow their contracting agents to retain a portion of the permit fee to help defray the cost incurred in selling permits.  Remittance to and reimbursement from the state agency is not required.

The owner of a vehicle that exceeds the legal width limitation of eight and one-half feet must purchase an overdimensional permit issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) when operating on the public highways.  Certain appliances are excluded from this calculation if it is determined by the DOT that these appurtenances are necessary for the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle.  The safety exclusions may not extend more than two inches beyond the extreme limits of the vehicle.

A new tarping method for covering garbage truck loads is being sold in the state of Washington.  The purpose is to comply with the covered load statute.  The tarp is permanently affixed to the vehicle and automatically covers the load when a switch is activated.  The frame necessary to hold the tarp extends six inches beyond the permanent structure, and therefor exceeds the two-inch safety tolerance.

SUMMARY:

Certain special motor vehicle permit fees are increased:  (1) The single trip permit fee for over-dimensional load (height, width or length) movements is increased from $5 to $10; (2) The minimum fee for a non-reducible overweight permit and non-reducible overweight duplicate permit are both increased from $5 to $10.

Certain additional tonnage permit fees are also increased:  (1) The annual additional tonnage duplicate or transfer permit fee is increased from $5 to $10; (2) The minimum fee for a temporary additional tonnage permit is increased from $1 to $2 per day for each 2,000 pounds; (3) The minimum fee for prorated additional tonnage is increased from $5 to $25.  Prorated additional tonnage fees are rounded off to a full dollar amount (same language as used in non-reducible load overweight fee schedule).

Agents of the Department who are authorized to issue special motor vehicle, additional tonnage and log tolerance permits are specified.  Issuing agents are permitted to retain $3.50 of the permit fee collected to offset administrative costs.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  (1)  The Senate striking amendment adds language that allows the DOT to issue overwidth permits to vehicles with a total outside width, including the load, of nine feet when the vehicle is equipped with a mechanism designed to cover the load.  The Federal Highway Administration does not object to this concept as long as a permit is issued.  The permit fee is $20 per month or $240 per year.

(2)  Technical language is added to clarify the original intent of the bill.  DOT agents may retain a portion of the permit fee.  The current practice of remitting the full amount to the Department and subsequent reimbursement by the Department is discontinued.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Terry Corrigan, Department of Transportation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Increases in certain special permit and additional tonnage fees will help offset the cost of administration.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 97; Nays 1

Voting Nay: Representative H. Myers.