HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2629

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to junk vehicles.

Brief Description:  Revising the definition of junk vehicle.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Fisher, Appelwick, Campbell, Sommers, Edmondson and Dorn).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 1, 1994, DPS;

  Passed House, February 10, 1994, 70-25;

  Amended by Senate;

House concurred;

Passed Legislature, March 5, 1995, 87-6.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 22 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; R. Meyers; Orr; Patterson; Romero; Sheldon; Wood and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 5 members:  Representatives Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Quall and Shin.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307).

Background:  In order for a vehicle to meet the statutory definition of a "junk vehicle," it must meet five requirements.  Those requirements include that the vehicle:  (1) is three years old or older; (2) is extensively damaged; (3) is apparently inoperable; (4) is without a valid, current registration plate; and (5) has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.  The Department of Licensing is to suspend the driver license of any person who fails to respond to a traffic infraction or a hearing on the traffic infraction.

Summary of Bill:  This legislation changes the definition of a junk vehicle in two ways.  First, it deletes the requirement that a vehicle must be without a valid, current registration plate.  Secondly, it requires that a vehicle meet only three of the four remaining criteria in order to be classified as a junk vehicle by law enforcement.  A law enforcement officer writing a traffic infraction for an  abandoned vehicle shall send a copy of the infraction to the last known address of the registered owner by certified mail.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill will allow for disposal of truly junk vehicles.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Gary Pedersen, City of Tacoma; Darlena Gray, Hilltop Action Coalition; Carl Turner, City of Tacoma; Jack Pleasant, Hilltop citizen; Stuart Halsan, Washington Tow Truck Association; and Mike Torbert, Able Auto Wrecking.