Read first time 02/03/2005.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to registration of vintage snowmobiles; amending RCW 46.10.010, 46.10.020, and 46.10.040; and creating a new section.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.10.010 and 1979 ex.s. c 182 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     As used in this chapter the words and phrases in this section shall have the designated meanings unless a different meaning is expressly provided or the context otherwise clearly indicated.
     (1) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association, or corporation.
     (2) "Snowmobile" shall mean any self-propelled vehicle capable of traveling over snow or ice, which utilizes as its means of propulsion an endless belt tread, or cleats, or any combination of these or other similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated, and which is steered wholly or in part by skis or sled type runners, and which is not otherwise registered as, or subject to the motor vehicle excise tax in the state of Washington.
     (3) "Vintage snowmobile" means a snowmobile manufactured at least thirty years ago.
     (4) "All terrain vehicle" shall mean any self-propelled vehicle other than a snowmobile, capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, and other natural terrain, including, but not limited to, four-wheel vehicles, amphibious vehicles, ground effect or air cushion vehicles, and any other means of land transportation deriving motive power from any source other than muscle or wind; except any vehicle designed primarily for travel on, over, or in the water, farm vehicles, or any military or law enforcement vehicles.
     (((4))) (5) "Owner" shall mean the person, other than a lienholder, having the property in or title to a snowmobile or all terrain vehicle, and entitled to the use or possession thereof.
     (((5))) (6) "Operator" means each person who operates, or is in physical control of, any snowmobile or all terrain vehicle.
     (((6))) (7) "Public roadway" shall mean the entire width of the right of way of any road or street designed and ordinarily used for travel or parking of motor vehicles, which is controlled by a public authority other than the Washington state department of transportation, and which is open as a matter of right to the general public for ordinary vehicular traffic.
     (((7))) (8) "Highways" shall mean the entire width of the right of way of all primary and secondary state highways, including all portions of the interstate highway system.
     (((8))) (9) "Dealer" means a person, partnership, association, or corporation engaged in the business of selling snowmobiles or all terrain vehicles at wholesale or retail in this state.
     (((9))) (10) "Department" shall mean the department of licensing.
     (((10))) (11) "Director" shall mean the director of the department of licensing.
     (((11))) (12) "Commission" shall mean the Washington state parks and recreation commission.
     (((12))) (13) "Hunt" shall mean any effort to kill, injure, capture, or disturb a wild animal or wild bird.
     (((13))) (14) "Committee" means the Washington state parks and recreation commission snowmobile advisory committee.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.10.020 and 1982 c 17 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall own, transport, or operate any snowmobile within this state unless such snowmobile has been registered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. However, a vintage snowmobile only requires registration if operated within this state.
     (2) A registration number shall be assigned, without payment of a fee, to snowmobiles owned by the state of Washington or its political subdivisions, and the assigned registration number shall be displayed upon each snowmobile in such manner as provided by rules adopted by the department.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.10.040 and 2002 c 352 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Application for registration shall be made to the department in the manner and upon forms the department prescribes, and shall state the name and address of each owner of the snowmobile to be registered, and shall be signed by at least one such owner, and shall be accompanied by an annual registration fee to be established by the commission, after consultation with the committee and any statewide snowmobile user groups. ((The commission shall increase the current fee of twenty dollars by five dollars effective September 30, 2001, and the commission shall increase the fee by another five dollars effective September 30, 2002. After the fee increase effective September 30, 2002, the commission shall not increase the fee.))
     (a) The annual registration fee for snowmobiles newer than thirty years is thirty dollars. The annual registration fee for vintage snowmobiles is twelve dollars. The department shall design, in cooperation with the commission, a distinct registration decal which shall be issued to vintage snowmobiles upon payment of the annual registration fee.
     (b) Upon receipt of the application and the application fee, the snowmobile shall be registered and a registration number assigned, which shall be affixed to the snowmobile in a manner provided in RCW 46.10.070.
     (2) The registration provided in this section shall be valid for a period of one year. At the end of the period of registration, every owner of a snowmobile in this state shall renew his or her registration in the manner the department prescribes, for an additional period of one year, upon payment of the annual registration fee as determined by the commission.
     (3) Any person acquiring a snowmobile already validly registered under the provisions of this chapter must, within ten days of the acquisition or purchase of the snowmobile, make application to the department for transfer of the registration, and the application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee of five dollars.
     (4) A snowmobile owned by a resident of another state or Canadian province where registration is not required by law may be issued a nonresident registration permit valid for not more than sixty days. Application for the permit shall state the name and address of each owner of the snowmobile to be registered and shall be signed by at least one owner and shall be accompanied by a registration fee of five dollars. The registration permit shall be carried on the vehicle at all times during its operation in this state.
     (5) The registration fees provided in this section shall be in lieu of any personal property or excise tax heretofore imposed on snowmobiles by this state or any political subdivision thereof, and no city, county, or other municipality, and no state agency shall hereafter impose any other registration or license fee on any snowmobile in this state.
     (6) The department shall make available a pair of uniform decals consistent with the provisions of RCW 46.10.070. In addition to the registration fee provided in this section the department shall charge each applicant for registration the actual cost of the decal. The department shall make available replacement decals for a fee equivalent to the actual cost of the decals.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act applies to registrations due or to become due on October 1, 2005, and thereafter.