BILL REQ. #:  H-1535.2 

Read first time 02/10/11.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to license plate fraud and law enforcement safety; amending RCW 46.18.220, 46.04.126, and 46.18.255; adding a new section to chapter 46.18 RCW; prescribing penalties; and providing effective dates.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.18.220 and 2010 c 161 s 617 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A registered owner may apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a collector vehicle license plate for a motor vehicle that is at least ((thirty)) forty years old. The motor vehicle must be operated primarily as a collector vehicle and be in good running order. The applicant for the collector vehicle license plate shall:
     (a) Purchase a registration for the motor vehicle as required under chapters ((46.16)) 46.16A and 46.17 RCW; and
     (b) Pay the special license plate fee established under RCW 46.17.220(1)(d), in addition to any other fees or taxes required by law.
     (2) A person applying for a collector vehicle license plate may:
     (a) Receive a collector vehicle license plate assigned by the department; or
     (b) Provide ((a)) an actual Washington state issued license plate designated for general use in the year of the vehicle's manufacture.
     (3) Collector vehicle license plates:
     (a) Are valid for the life of the motor vehicle;
     (b) Are not required to be renewed; and
     (c) Must be displayed on the rear of the motor vehicle.
     (4) A collector vehicle registered under this section may only be used for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and occasional pleasure driving. A person found to have committed any violation relating to use restrictions regarding a collector vehicle must be assessed a monetary penalty equal to two times the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended. After a third use violation, the collector vehicle license plates must, in addition to the penalty assessment, be replaced with standard Washington state issued license plates and comply with the vehicle registration and fee requirements under chapters 46.16A and 46.17 RCW.
     (5) Collector vehicle license plates may be transferred from one motor vehicle to another motor vehicle described in subsection (1) of this section upon application to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director.
     (6) Any person who knowingly provides a false or facsimile license plate under subsection (2)(b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.18 RCW to read as follows:
     The department must provide a method by which law enforcement officers may readily access vehicle information for collector vehicles by using the collector vehicle license plate number. In the event duplicate license plate numbers have been issued to more than one collector vehicle, the department must provide a method for law enforcement officers to identify the correct vehicle.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.04.126 and 2009 c 142 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     "Collector vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is more than ((thirty)) forty years old.

Sec. 4   RCW 46.18.255 and 2010 c 161 s 623 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A registered owner may apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a horseless carriage license plate for a motor vehicle that is at least forty years old. The motor vehicle must be operated primarily as a collector vehicle and be in good running order. A person found to have committed any violation relating to use restrictions regarding a horseless carriage motor vehicle must be assessed a monetary penalty equal to two times the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended. After a third use violation, the horseless carriage license plates must, in addition to the penalty assessment, be replaced with standard Washington state issued license plates and comply with the vehicle registration and fee requirements under chapters 46.16A and 46.17 RCW. The applicant for the horseless carriage license plate shall:
     (a) Purchase a registration for the motor vehicle as required under chapters ((46.16)) 46.16A and 46.17 RCW; and
     (b) Pay the special license plate fee established under RCW 46.17.220(1)(i), in addition to any other fees or taxes required by law.
     (2) Horseless carriage license plates:
     (a) Are valid for the life of the motor vehicle;
     (b) Are not required to be renewed;
     (c) Are not transferrable to any other motor vehicle; and
     (d) Must be displayed on the rear of the motor vehicle.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Except for section 2 of this act, this act takes effect August 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Section 2 of this act takes effect January 1, 2012.