S-620                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5452

                        _______________________________________________

                                                                            C 156 L 89

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Nelson and Vognild

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

AN ACT Relating to vehicle license fees; amending RCW 46.16.085, 46.16.090, and 46.68.035; reenacting and amending RCW 46.16.070; and creating a new section.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 46.16.070, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 3, chapter 244, Laws of 1987 and by section 4, chapter 9, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. and RCW 46.16.070 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

          In lieu of all other vehicle licensing fees, unless specifically exempt, and in addition to the excise tax prescribed in chapter 82.44 RCW and the mileage fees prescribed for buses and stages in RCW 46.16.125, there shall be paid and collected annually for each motor truck, truck tractor, road tractor, tractor, bus, auto stage, or for hire vehicle with seating capacity of more than six, based upon the declared combined gross weight or declared gross weight thereof pursuant to the provisions of chapter 46.44 RCW, the following licensing fees by such gross weight:

!tp1,1,1,1,1!tr4,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,003((27.75)) 28.75

!tr6,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,003((32.72)) 33.72

!tr8,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,003((40.30)) 41.30

!tr10,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,003((45.37)) 46.37

!tr12,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,003((52.62)) 53.62

!tr14,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,003((59.86)) 60.86

!tr16,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,003((67.31)) 68.31

!tr18,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((99.02)) 100.02

!tr20,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((109.94)) 110.94

!tr22,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((118.76)) 119.76

!tr24,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((127.95)) 128.95

!tr26,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((135.08)) 136.08

!tr28,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((158.66)) 159.66

!tr30,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((182.18)) 183.18

!tr32,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((218.78)) 219.78

!tr34,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((232.06)) 233.06

!tr36,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((251.39)) 252.39

!tr38,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((275.51)) 276.51

!tr40,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((314.99)) 315.99

!tr42,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((327.16)) 328.16

!tr44,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((334.02)) 335.02

!tr46,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((358.91)) 359.91

!tr48,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((374.19)) 375.19

!tr50,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((405.36)) 406.36

!tr52,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((426.45)) 427.45

!tr54,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((460.02)) 461.02

!tr56,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((485.21)) 486.21

!tr58,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((504.53)) 505.53

!tr60,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((537.29)) 538.29

!tr62,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((575.50)) 576.50

!tr64,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((588.75)) 589.75

!tr66,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((655.14)) 656.14

!tr68,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((682.99)) 683.99

!tr70,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((735.14)) 736.14

!tr72,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((785.36)) 786.36

!tr74,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((853.15)) 854.15

!tr76,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,002((922.05)) 923.05

!tr78,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,001((1,006.10)) 1,007.10

!tr80,000 lbs.!sc ,1!w×!tj2!tr$!sc ,001((1,085.95)) 1,086.95!ix!te

          The proceeds from such fees shall be distributed in accordance with RCW 46.68.035.

          Effective with motor vehicle licenses that expire in January, 1989, and thereafter, a surcharge of four dollars and seventy-five cents is added to such fees.  The proceeds of this surcharge shall be forwarded to the state treasurer to be deposited into the state patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund.

          Every motor truck, truck tractor, and tractor exceeding 6,000 pounds empty scale weight registered under chapter 46.16, 46.87, or 46.88 RCW shall be licensed for not less than one hundred fifty percent of its empty weight unless the amount would be in excess of the legal limits prescribed for such a vehicle in RCW 46.44.041 or 46.44.042, in which event the vehicle shall be licensed for the maximum weight authorized for such a vehicle.

          The following provisions apply when increasing gross or combined gross weight for a vehicle licensed under this section:

          (1) The new license fee will be one-twelfth of the fee listed above for the new gross weight, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the period for which licensing fees have been paid, including the month in which the new gross weight is effective.

          (2) Upon surrender of the current certificate of registration or cab card, the new licensing fees due shall be reduced by the amount of the licensing fees previously paid for the same period for which new fees are being charged.

        Sec. 2.  Section 16, chapter 380, Laws of 1985 as last amended by section 4, chapter 244, Laws of 1987 and RCW 46.16.085 are each amended to read as follows:

          In lieu of all other licensing fees, an annual license fee of ((thirty-five)) thirty-six dollars shall be collected in addition to the excise tax prescribed in chapter 82.44 RCW for:  (1) Each trailer and semitrailer not subject to the license fee under RCW 46.16.065 or the capacity fees under RCW 46.16.080; (2) every pole trailer; (3) every converter gear or auxiliary axle not licensed as a combination under the provisions of RCW 46.16.083.  The proceeds from this fee shall be distributed in accordance with RCW 46.68.035.  This section does not pertain to travel trailers or personal use trailers that are not used for commercial purposes or owned by commercial enterprises.

        Sec. 3.  Section 10, chapter 18, Laws of 1986 and RCW 46.16.090 are each amended to read as follows:

          Motor trucks, truck tractors, and tractors may be specially licensed based on the declared gross weight thereof for the various amounts set forth in the schedule provided in RCW 46.16.070 less ((twenty-two)) twenty-three dollars; divide the difference by two and add ((twenty-two)) twenty-three dollars, when such vehicles are owned and operated by farmers, but only if the following condition or conditions exist:

          (1) When such vehicles are to be used for the transportation of the farmer's own farm, orchard, or dairy products, or the farmer's own private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020, from point of production to market or warehouse, and of supplies to be used on the farmer's farm.  Fish other than those that are such private sector cultured aquatic products and forestry products are not considered as farm products; and/or

          (2) When such vehicles are to be used for the infrequent or seasonal transportation by one farmer for another farmer in the farmer's neighborhood of products of the farm, orchard, dairy, or aquatic farm owned by the other farmer from point of production to market or warehouse, or supplies to be used on the other farm, but only if transportation for another farmer is for compensation other than money.  Farmers shall be permitted an allowance of an additional eight thousand pounds, within the legal limits, on such vehicles, when used in the transportation of the farmer's own farm machinery between the farmer's own farm or farms and for a distance of not more than thirty-five miles from the farmer's farm or farms.

          The department shall prepare a special form of application to be used by farmers applying for licenses under this section, which form shall contain a statement to the effect that the vehicle concerned will be used subject to the limitations of this section.  The department shall prepare special insignia which shall be placed upon all such vehicles to indicate that the vehicle is specially licensed, or may, in its discretion, substitute a special license plate for such vehicle for such designation.

           Operation of such a specially licensed vehicle in transportation upon public highways in violation of the limitations of this section is a traffic infraction.

        Sec. 4.  Section 21, chapter 380, Laws of 1985 and RCW 46.68.035 are each amended to read as follows:

          All proceeds from combined vehicle licensing fees received by the director for vehicles licensed under RCW 46.16.070 and 46.16.085 shall be forwarded to the state treasurer to be distributed into accounts according to the following method:

          (1) 34.644 percent, representing the vehicle licensing fee, shall be distributed according to the following formula:

          (a) 76.772 percent shall be deposited into the state patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund;

          (b) 6.348 percent shall be deposited into the Puget Sound ferry operations account of the motor vehicle fund;

          (c) 16.880 percent shall be deposited into the motor vehicle fund.

          (2) The sum of ((one)) two dollars for each vehicle shall be deposited into the highway safety fund, except that for each vehicle registered by a county auditor or agent to a county auditor pursuant to RCW 46.01.140, the sum of ((one)) two dollars shall be credited to the current county expense fund.

          (3) The remaining proceeds, representing the gross vehicle weight fee, identification fee, special fee, minimum fee, and application fee, shall be deposited into the motor vehicle fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     This act first applies to the renewal of vehicle registrations that have a December 1990 or later expiration date and all initial vehicle registrations that are effective on or after January 1, 1990.

                                                                                                                           Passed the Senate March 8, 1989.

                                                                                                                                       President of the Senate.

                                                                                                                           Passed the House April 12, 1989.

                                                                                                                                         Speaker of the House.