BILL REQ. #:  H-1135.3 

Read first time 02/07/11.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to improving the efficiency of state government through two-year vehicle registration for certain vehicles; amending RCW 46.16A.010, 46.16A.020, 46.16A.025, 46.16A.440, 46.17.005, 46.17.015, 46.17.025, 46.17.305, 46.17.330, 46.17.350, 46.17.375, 46.68.030, and 82.50.460; and reenacting and amending RCW 46.16A.110 and 46.16A.180.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.16A.010 and 2010 c 161 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
     (1) "Commercial motor vehicle," for the purposes of requiring a department of transportation number, means the same as defined in RCW 46.25.010(6), or a motor vehicle used in commerce when the motor vehicle: (a) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) inclusive of a towed unit of a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds or more); (b) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more); or (c) is used in the transportation of hazardous materials, as defined in RCW 46.25.010(13);
     (2) "Department of transportation number" means a department of transportation number from the federal motor carrier safety administration;
     (3) "Interstate commercial motor vehicle" means a commercial vehicle that operates in more than one state;
     (4) "Intrastate commercial motor vehicle" means a commercial vehicle that operates exclusively within the state of Washington;
     (5) "Motor carrier" means a person or entity who has been issued a department of transportation number and who owns a commercial motor vehicle;
     (6) "Registration period" means the effective period of a vehicle registration issued by the department for a vehicle that has a declared gross weight of eight thousand pounds or less. A registration period begins at 12:01 a.m. on the date of the calendar year designated by the department and ends at 12:00 a.m. on the same day the second succeeding year unless otherwise specified;
     (7) "Registration year" means the effective period of a vehicle registration issued by the department for a vehicle that has a declared gross weight of more than eight thousand pounds. A registration year begins at 12:01 a.m. on the date of the calendar year designated by the department and ends at 12:00 a.m. on the same day the following year unless otherwise specified;
     (((7))) (8) "Renewal notice" means the notice to renew a vehicle registration sent to the registered owner by the department.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.16A.020 and 2010 c 161 s 402 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall assign a new registration year or registration period to a vehicle if:
     (a) The Washington state vehicle registration has expired and registered ownership to the vehicle is being transferred. The renewed license is valid for a full twelve-month period or twenty-four month period unless a specific expiration date is required by law, rule, or program; or
     (b) The Washington vehicle registration has expired and the registered owner:
     (i) Is a member of the United States armed forces;
     (ii) Was stationed outside of Washington under military orders during the prior vehicle registration year or registration period; and
     (iii) Provides the department a copy of the military orders.
     (2) Each registration year may be divided into twelve registration months. Each registration period may be divided into twenty-four registration months. Each registration month begins at 12:01 a.m. on a day of the month assigned by the department and ends at 12:00 a.m. on the same day the following month.
     (3) A registration year or registration period extends through the end of the next business day when the final day of a registration year or registration period or month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.16A.025 and 2010 c 161 s 431 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department may by rule extend or reduce vehicle registration periods for the purpose of staggering renewal periods. The rules may exclude any classes or classifications of vehicles from the staggered renewal system and may provide for the gradual introduction of classes or classifications of vehicles into the system. The rules shall provide for the collection of proportionately increased or decreased vehicle license fees and of excise or property taxes required to be paid at the time of registration.
     ((It is the intent of the legislature that there shall be neither a significant net gain nor loss of revenue to the state general fund or the motor vehicle fund as the result of implementing and maintaining a staggered vehicle registration system.))

Sec. 4   RCW 46.16A.110 and 2010 c 161 s 428 and 2010 c 8 s 9012 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) A registered owner or the registered owner's authorized representative must apply for a renewal vehicle registration to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a form approved by the director. The application for a renewal vehicle registration must be accompanied by a draft, money order, certified bank check, or cash for all fees and taxes required by law for the application for a renewal vehicle registration.
     (2) An application and the fees and taxes for a renewal vehicle registration must be handled in the same manner as an original vehicle registration application. The registration does not need to show the name of the lien holder when the application for renewal vehicle registration becomes the renewal registration upon validation.
     (3) A person expecting to be out of state during the normal renewal period of a vehicle registration may renew a vehicle registration and have license plates or tabs preissued by applying for a renewal as described in subsection (1) of this section. A vehicle registration may be renewed for the subsequent registration year or registration period up to eighteen months before the current expiration date and must be displayed from the date of issue or from the day of the expiration of the current registration year or registration period, whichever date is later.
     (4) An application for a renewal vehicle registration is not required for those vehicles owned, rented, or leased by:
     (a) The state of Washington, or by any county, city, town, school district, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington; or
     (b) A governing body of an Indian tribe located within this state and recognized as a governmental entity by the United States department of the interior.

Sec. 5   RCW 46.16A.180 and 2010 c 161 s 432 and 2010 c 8 s 9014 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) A registration certificate must be:
     (a) Signed by the registered owner, or if a firm or corporation, the signature of one of its officers or other authorized agent, to be valid;
     (b) Carried in the vehicle for which it is issued; and
     (c) Provided to law enforcement and the department by the operator of the vehicle upon demand.
     (2) It is unlawful for any person to operate or be in possession of a vehicle without carrying a registration certificate for the vehicle. Any person in charge of a vehicle shall, upon demand of any of the local authorities or of any police officer or of any representative of the department, permit an inspection of the vehicle registration certificate. This section does not apply to a vehicle for which registration is not required to be renewed annually or biennially and is a publicly owned vehicle marked as required under RCW 46.08.065.

Sec. 6   RCW 46.16A.440 and 2010 c 161 s 421 are each amended to read as follows:
     Private use single-axle trailers of two thousand pounds scale weight or less may qualify for a reduced vehicle license fee described in RCW 46.17.350(1)(k). To qualify for the reduced vehicle license fee:
     (1) The trailer must be operated upon public highways;
     (2) The vehicle license fee must be collected ((annually)) for each registration ((year)) period or fraction of a registration ((year)) period; and
     (3) The trailer must be operated for personal use of the owner and not held for rental to the public or used in any commercial or business endeavor.

Sec. 7   RCW 46.17.005 and 2010 c 161 s 501 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person who applies for a vehicle registration or for any other right to operate a vehicle on the highways of this state shall pay a three dollar filing fee for a vehicle subject to a registration year, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, or a six dollar filing fee for a vehicle subject to a registration period, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law.
     (2) A person who applies for a certificate of title shall pay a four dollar filing fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law.
     (3) The filing fees established in this section must be distributed under RCW 46.68.400.

Sec. 8   RCW 46.17.015 and 2010 c 161 s 502 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person who applies for a vehicle registration or for any other right to operate a vehicle on the highways of this state shall pay a twenty-five cent license plate technology fee for a vehicle subject to a registration year, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, or a fifty cent license plate technology fee for a vehicle subject to a registration period, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. The license plate technology fee must be distributed under RCW 46.68.370.
     (2) A vehicle registered under RCW 46.16A.455 or 46.17.330 is not subject to the license plate technology fee.

Sec. 9   RCW 46.17.025 and 2010 c 161 s 503 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person who applies for a vehicle registration or for any other right to operate a vehicle on the highways of this state shall pay a fifty cent license service fee for a vehicle subject to a registration year, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, or a one dollar license service fee for a vehicle subject to a registration period, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. The license service fee must be distributed under RCW 46.68.220.
     (2) A vehicle registered under RCW 46.16A.455 or 46.17.330 is not subject to the license service fee.

Sec. 10   RCW 46.17.305 and 2010 c 161 s 522 are each amended to read as follows:
     Before accepting an application for a vehicle registration for a boat trailer, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require the applicant to pay a ((three)) six dollar aquatic weed fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. The ((three)) six dollar fee must be deposited in the freshwater aquatic weeds account created in RCW 43.21A.650.

Sec. 11   RCW 46.17.330 and 2010 c 161 s 527 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In lieu of the vehicle license fee required under RCW 46.17.350 and before accepting an application for a vehicle registration for farm vehicles described in RCW 46.16A.425, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require the applicant, unless specifically exempt, to pay the following farm vehicle reduced gross weight license fee by weight:

Sec. 12   RCW 46.17.350 and 2010 c 161 s 531 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Before accepting an application for a vehicle registration, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require the applicant, unless specifically exempt, to pay the following vehicle license fee by vehicle type:

Sec. 13   RCW 46.17.375 and 2010 c 161 s 534 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Before accepting an application for registration for a recreational vehicle, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require an applicant to pay a ((three)) six dollar fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. The recreational vehicle sanitary disposal fee must be deposited in the RV account created in RCW 46.68.170.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "recreational vehicle" means a camper, motor home, or travel trailer.

Sec. 14   RCW 46.68.030 and 2010 c 161 s 803 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The director shall forward all fees for vehicle registrations under chapters ((46.16)) 46.16A and 46.17 RCW, unless otherwise specified by law, to the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit these moneys to the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 46.68.070.
     (2) Proceeds from vehicle license fees and renewal vehicle license fees must be deposited by the state treasurer as follows:
     (a) $20.35 of each initial or renewal vehicle license fee for a vehicle subject to a registration year, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, and $40.70 of each initial or renewal vehicle license fee for a vehicle subject to a registration period, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, must be deposited in the state patrol highway account in the motor vehicle fund, hereby created. Vehicle license fees, renewal vehicle license fees, and all other funds in the state patrol highway account must be for the sole use of the Washington state patrol for highway activities of the Washington state patrol, subject to proper appropriations and reappropriations.
     (b) $2.02 of each initial vehicle license fee and $0.93 of each renewal vehicle license fee for a vehicle subject to a registration year, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, and $4.04 of each initial vehicle license fee and $1.86 of each renewal vehicle license fee for a vehicle subject to a registration period, as defined in RCW 46.16A.010, must be deposited each biennium in the Puget Sound ferry operations account.
     (c) Any remaining amounts of vehicle license fees and renewal vehicle license fees that are not distributed otherwise under this section must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

Sec. 15   RCW 82.50.460 and 1979 c 123 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     Prior to the end of any registration ((year)) period of a vehicle, the director shall cause to be mailed to the owners of travel trailers or campers, of record, notice of the amount of tax payable during the succeeding registration ((year)) period. The notice shall contain a legal description of the travel trailer or camper, prominent notice of due dates, and such other information as may be required by the director.