Read first time 01/17/2007.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to examination requirements for a certificate of ownership; and amending RCW 46.12.030 and 46.12.040.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.12.030 and 2005 c 173 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The application for a certificate of ownership shall be upon a form furnished or approved by the department and shall contain:
     (a) A full description of the vehicle, which shall contain the proper vehicle identification number, the number of miles indicated on the odometer at the time of delivery of the vehicle, and any distinguishing marks of identification;
     (b) The name and address of the person who is to be the registered owner of the vehicle and, if the vehicle is subject to a security interest, the name and address of the secured party;
     (c) Such other information as the department may require.
     (2) The department may in any instance, in addition to the information required on the application, require additional information and a physical examination of the vehicle or of any class of vehicles, or either.
     (3)(a) A physical examination of the vehicle is mandatory if (i) it has been rebuilt after surrender of the certificate of ownership to the department under RCW 46.12.070 due to the vehicle's destruction or declaration as a total loss and (ii) it is not retained by the registered owner at the time of the vehicle's destruction or declaration as a total loss. The inspection must verify that the vehicle identification number is genuine and agrees with the number shown on the title and registration certificate. The inspection must be made by a member of the Washington state patrol or other person authorized by the department to make such inspections.
     (b)(i) A physical examination of the vehicle is mandatory if the vehicle was declared totaled or salvage under the laws of this state, or the vehicle is presented with documents from another state showing the vehicle was totaled or salvage and has not been reissued a valid registration from that state after the declaration of total loss or salvage.
     (ii) The inspection must verify that the vehicle identification number is genuine and agrees with the number shown on the original documents supporting the vehicle purchase or ownership.
     (iii) A Washington state patrol VIN specialist must ensure that all major component parts used for the reconstruction of a salvage or rebuildable vehicle were obtained legally. Original invoices for new and used parts must be from a vendor that is registered with the department of revenue for the collection of retail sales or use taxes or comparable agency in the jurisdiction where the major component parts were purchased. The invoices must include the name and address of the business, a description of the part or parts sold, the date of sale, and the amount of sale to include all taxes paid unless exempted by the department of revenue or comparable agency in the jurisdiction where the major component parts were purchased. Original invoices for used parts must be from a vehicle wrecker licensed under chapter 46.80 RCW or a comparable business in the jurisdiction outside Washington state where the major component part was purchased. If the parts or components were purchased from a private individual, the private individual must have title to the vehicle the parts were taken from, except as provided by RCW 46.04.3815, and the bill of sale for the parts must be notarized. The bills of sale must include the names and addresses of the sellers and purchasers, a description of the vehicle, the part or parts being sold, including the make, model, year, and identification or serial number, that date of sale, and the purchase price of the vehicle or part or parts. If the presenter is unable to provide an acceptable release of interest or proof of ownership for a vehicle or major component part as described above, an inspection must be completed for ownership-in-doubt purposes as prescribed by WAC 308-56A-210.
     (iv) A vehicle presented for inspection must have all damaged major component parts replaced or repaired to meet RCW and WAC requirements before inspection of the salvage vehicle by the Washington state patrol.
     (4) To the extent that the Washington state patrol has a backlog of vehicle inspections that it is to perform under this section, this act shall not be construed to reduce the vehicle inspection workload of the Washington state patrol.
     (5) Rebuilt or salvage vehicles licensed in Washington must meet the requirements found under chapter 46.37 RCW to be driven upon public roadways.
     (((5))) (6) The application shall be subscribed by the person applying to be the registered owner and be sworn to by that applicant in the manner described by RCW 9A.72.085. The department shall retain the application in either the original, computer, or photostatic form.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.12.040 and 2004 c 200 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The application for an original certificate of ownership accompanied by a draft, money order, certified bank check, or cash for five dollars, together with the last preceding certificates or other satisfactory evidence of ownership, shall be forwarded to the director.
     (2) The fee shall be in addition to any other fee for the license registration of the vehicle. The certificate of ownership shall not be required to be renewed annually, or at any other time, except as by law provided.
     (3) In addition to the application fee and any other fee for the license registration of a vehicle, the department shall collect from the applicant a fee of fifteen dollars for vehicles previously registered in any other state or country. The proceeds from the fee shall be deposited in accordance with RCW 46.68.020. For vehicles requiring a physical examination, the inspection fee shall be ((fifty dollars and)) sixty-five dollars, fifteen dollars of which shall be deposited into the state patrol highway account created under RCW 46.68.030, and the remainder of which shall be deposited in accordance with RCW 46.68.020.