HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2386

BYRepresentatives Ballard, R. Fisher, McLean, Wolfe, Miller, Forner and Horn

Clarifying the status of temporary permit fees paid to vehicle dealers.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair, Eastern Washington; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Cooper, Day, Forner, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Jones, Kremen, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, Smith, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Louise Bray Sandison (786-7322)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, residents of this state must register vehicles that are operated on the public highways.  A temporary permit to operate a vehicle for which application for registration has been made may be issued by the Department of Licensing or by vehicle dealers licensed under Ch. 46.70 RCW.  The permit costs $5, and that amount is credited to the registration fees at the time application for registration is made.

There has been some concern raised that buyers who paid registration fees to a dealer who fails to transmit those fees to the department would have to pay those fees again in order to complete registration of the vehicle.

SUMMARY:

Registration fees paid to an authorized dealer are considered payments to the state of Washington.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Bob Anderson, Department of Licensing; Jim Boldt, Washington Auto Dealers Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    It is important that the law clearly state that all registration fees paid to an authorized dealer are payments to the state in order to protect the public.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.