H-950                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1432

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Haugen, S. Wilson, Cole, Prentice, Bowman, Beck and Miller

Read first time 1/25/89 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle records; and amending RCW 46.12.380.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 241, Laws of 1984 as amended by section 1, chapter 299, Laws of 1987 and RCW 46.12.380 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 42.17 RCW, the name or address of an individual vehicle owner shall not be released by the department, county auditor, or other public agency except upon written request, signed by the person requesting disclosure, stating their full legal name and address.))  A county auditor, employee, agent, or subagent of the auditor shall not disclose any information contained in vehicle records.  Only the department may disclose such information, and disclosure shall be according to this section.

A person requesting information contained in the vehicle records maintained by the department shall identify himself or herself and state the reason for making the request.  The request shall be in writing  and signed by the person requesting the disclosure.  When processing the request, the department shall require the person to produce such information as the department determines necessary to verify the person's true identity and address.

These procedures do not apply to the state or any of its departments, agencies, or political subdivisions, any court, a law enforcement officer, a licensed private investigator, insurance companies, commercial parking facilities, financial institutions, and enterprises under the jurisdiction of the state division of banking and finance or a federal monetary authority, the federal government or any of its agencies, or any attorney admitted to practice in this state who alleges that the information is relevant to any pending or potential court proceeding.  The request for disclosure is itself a public record, subject to inspection and copying, and shall be retained by the disclosing agency for two years.

            Notice that such a disclosure request has been honored shall be sent to the affected vehicle owner by the disclosing agency, indicating the name and address of the person requesting disclosure.

          ((This section shall not apply to persons who routinely request disclosure of vehicle registration information for use in the course of their business or occupation.))