Title: An act relating to vehicle registration renewal fees within national recreation areas.

Brief Description: Exempting vehicles in inaccessible national recreation areas from license renewal fees.

Sponsors: Senators Parlette, Swecker, Honeyford, Mulliken, Sheldon and Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/21/05, 3/1/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5709 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Dalene Sprick (786-7321)

Background: Under current law, failure to initially register a vehicle in the state prior to operation on highways of the state is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no less than $330. Failure to renew an expired registration before operating on a highway of the state is a traffic infraction. Exemptions are allowed for: state and publically owned vehicles; vehicles owned by Indian tribes; motorized foot scooters; electric assisted bicycles; farm vehicles if operated within a fifteen mile radius of the farm; spray or fertilizer applicator rigs; fork lifts under certain conditions; and certain highway construction equipment.

Summary of Substitute Bill: If a motor vehicle is operated solely within a national recreation area that is not accessible by a state highway, it is exempt from the annual registration renewal and associated fees after it has been initially registered.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original exempted from registration renewal fees, while the substitute clarified that the exemption was from renewal and associated fees.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This legislation was requested by the National Parks Service and is supported by the County Commissioners. This community is inaccessible by road and once vehicles arrive in Stehekin the vehicle typically stays in Stehekin. There is similar legislation in Alaska.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Parlette, prime sponsor.