AN ACT Relating to snowmobiles; amending RCW 46.10.043, 46.10.050, and 46.01.270; adding a new section to chapter 46.10 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 46.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 46.10 RCW to read as follows:

No person may own, transport, operate, or register a snowmobile unless such snowmobile has been issued a certificate of ownership as provided in chapter 46.12 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.12 RCW to read as follows:

The department, if satisfied from the statements upon the application that the applicant is the legal owner of a snowmobile, shall thereupon issue an appropriate certificate of ownership.

(1) An application for a certificate of ownership for a new snowmobile sold by an in-state or out-of-state dealer or manufacturer must be accompanied by a manufacturer's statement of origin or other similar document certifying that this is the first conveyance of the snowmobile after its manufacture. The manufacturer's statement of origin or other similar document shall reflect the model year, make, and vehicle identification number.

(2) Upon application for a certificate of ownership for a snowmobile which is not new and has previously been issued a certificate of ownership or registration in this or another state or if from a state which does not title or register snowmobiles, the application must be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant is the legal owner of the snowmobile and that there are no perfected security interests or claims except as will be shown on the new certificate of ownership. The absence of outstanding security interests may be evidenced by appropriate uniform commercial code financing statement searches by the appropriate filing officer pursuant to RCW 62A.9-407(2) and releases or disclaimers of interest by any secured parties who may have security interests perfected by filing of a uniform commercial code financing statement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.12 RCW to read as follows:

Owners of snowmobiles currently registered shall comply with the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this act by September 30, 1990.

Sec. 4. Section 4, chapter 181, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. as last amended by section 3, chapter 17, Laws of 1982 and RCW 46.10.043 are each amended to read as follows:

Each snowmobile dealer registered pursuant to the provisions of RCW 46.10.050 shall ((~~register the snowmobile or, in the event the snowmobile is currently registered, transfer the registration to~~)) on selling or otherwise disposing of a snowmobile, make application for certificate of ownership and registration in the name of the new owner ((~~prior to~~)) within thirty days of delivering the snowmobile to that new owner ((~~subsequent to the sale thereof by the dealer~~)). Applications for certificate of ownership and registration ((~~and transfer of registration~~)) of snowmobiles shall be made to agents of the department authorized as such in accordance with RCW 46.01.140 and 46.01.150 as now or hereafter amended.

All registrations for snowmobiles must be valid for the current registration period prior to the transfer of any registration, including assignment to a dealer. Upon the sale of a snowmobile by a dealer, the dealer may issue a temporary registration as provided by rules adopted by the department.

Sec. 5. Section 5, chapter 29, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. as amended by section 5, chapter 17, Laws of 1982 and RCW 46.10.050 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each dealer of snowmobiles in this state shall register with the department in such manner and upon such forms as the department shall prescribe. Upon receipt of a dealer's application for registration and the registration fee provided for in subsection (2) of this section, such dealer shall be registered and a registration number assigned.

(2) The registration fee for dealers shall be twenty-five dollars per year, and such fee shall cover all of the snowmobiles owned by a dealer for other than personal use and not rented on a regular((,)) commercial basis((~~: PROVIDED, That~~)). Snowmobiles rented on a regular commercial basis by a dealer shall be titled and registered separately ((~~under the provisions of~~)) as provided in RCW 46.10.020, 46.10.040, 46.10.060, ((~~and~~)) 46.10.070, and section 1 of this act.

(3) Upon registration each dealer shall purchase, at a cost to be determined by the department, dealer number plates of a size and color to be determined by the department, which shall contain the registration number assigned to that dealer. Each snowmobile operated by a dealer ((~~for the purposes enumerated in subsection (2) of this section~~)) other than personal use and not rented on a regular commercial basis shall display such number plates in a clearly visible manner.

(4) No person other than a dealer or a representative thereof shall display a dealer number plate, and no dealer or a representative thereof shall use a dealer's number plate for any purpose other than the purposes described in subsection ((~~(2)~~)) (3) of this section.

(5) Dealer registration numbers shall be nontransferable.

(6) It shall be unlawful for any dealer to sell any snowmobile at wholesale or retail, or to test or demonstrate any snowmobile, within the state, unless registered in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Sec. 6. Section 46.08.130, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 4, chapter 32, Laws of 1967 and RCW 46.01.270 are each amended to read as follows:

The county auditor may destroy applications for vehicle licenses, copies of vehicle licenses issued, applications for vehicle driver's licenses, and copies of issued vehicle driver's licenses((~~, if any there be,~~)) after such records ((~~shall~~)) have been on file ((~~in his office~~)) for a period of ((~~three years~~)) eighteen months in the office of the county auditor, unless otherwise directed by the director.