Brief Description: Allowing auctioneers to auction vessels without registering as a vessel dealer.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Schoesler, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Pridemore, Clements, Sheldon, Morton, Hatfield and Honeyford).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development
House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: An auction company is a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal or commercial entity that sells goods or real estate at auction. Auction companies must be licensed with the Department of Licensing (DOL) and file a surety bond or deposit other security with DOL.

A vessel dealer is a person, partnership, association, or corporation engaged in the business of selling watercraft in the state. Vessel dealers must be registered and file a surety bond with DOL.

Summary: A properly licensed auction company, also licensed as a motor vehicle dealer, may sell at auction all vessels that a vessel dealer is authorized to sell, without registering with DOL, so long as the sale of vessels is not the auction company's primary source of business. Auction companies that sell vessels at auction must comply with the other requirements of chapter 88.02 RCW, including rules adopted pursuant to that chapter. The length of any vessel sold by an auction company cannot be greater than 25 feet.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   0
House      96   0   (House amended)
Senate      45   0   (Senate concurred)   

Effective:   July 22, 2007