Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 2612

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates license plate indicators for tow trucks used to conduct transporter, hulk hauler or scrap processer, or wrecker business.
Establishes fees for the transporter, hulk hauler or scrap processer, and wrecker license plates.
Requires the indicator to be either an imprinted symbol or a tab that must be approved by the Department of Licensing.
Removes the requirement that companies that use tow trucks to conduct transporter, hulk hauler or scrap processer, or wrecker business must purchase and display unique license plates authorizing the business use of the truck in addition to the standard license plate required to register all vehicles.

Background:

Tow truck operators may apply for a transporter license with the Department of Licensing (DOL). A transporter license allows a person or business to deliver vehicles that are not registered as their own using the driveaway or towaway methods. When a license application is approved by the DOL, the operator is issued a set of unique license plates indicating the transporter business purpose that are to be displayed on the tow truck in operation. The fee for an original transporter license is $25. Special license plates indicting the transporter business must be displayed on any vehicle being transported using a licensed tow truck. The fee for these plates is $2 per set.

Tow truck operators may apply for a hulk hauler or scrap processor license with the DOL. A hulk hauler is a person or a business that transports and/or sells vehicles to a licensed vehicle or scrap processor in the same form that the vehicle was obtained in. A hulk hauler may not sell secondhand vehicle parts to anyone other than a licensed vehicle wrecker or scrap processor, with exception to some parts that are authorized to be removed from the vehicle and sold. A scrap processor is a licensed establishment that maintains a hydraulic baler and shears or a shredder for recycling salvage. When a license application is approved by the DOL, the operator is issued a certificate that must be displayed at the place of business. The fee for a hulk hauler license is $10, and the fee for a scrap processor license is $25. Special license plates indicating the hulk hauler or scrap processor business must be displayed on the tow truck vehicles used for this work and must be displayed on any vehicle being transported in lieu of a trip permit or current license. The fee for these special plates is $5 for the first set and $2 for each additional set bearing the same license number.

Tow truck operators may apply for a wrecker license with the DOL. A wrecker is a person or business engaged in buying, selling, or dealing in vehicles for the purpose of wrecking, dismantling, or disassembling vehicles, or who buys and sells integral secondhand parts of component material, or who deals in secondhand vehicle parts. When a license application is approved by the DOL, the operator is issued a certificate that must be displayed at the place of business. The fee for a wrecker license is $25. Special license plates indicating the wrecker business must be displayed on the vehicles owned or operated by the operator and used to conduct business. Wrecker companies with more than one licensed location in the state may use special license plates bearing the same number for vehicles operated out of any of the locations. The fee for these special plates is $5 for the first set and $2 for each additional set bearing the same license number.

Summary of Bill:

A tow truck operator using a tow truck to conduct transporter business is required to display an indication detailing the business purpose on the vehicle's regular license plates. This is in lieu of obtaining and displaying a special set of license plates indicating the business purpose in addition to the regular license plates. A fee of $25 is established for the first set of transporter business license plates, and a fee of $2 is established for each additional set of plates.

A tow truck operator using a tow truck to conduct hulk hauler or scrap processor business is required to display an indication detailing the business purpose on the vehicle's regular license plates. This is in lieu of obtaining and displaying a special set of license plates indicating the business purpose in addition to the regular license plates. A fee of $5 is established for the first set of hulk hauler or scrap processor business license plates, and a fee of $2 is established for each additional set of plates.

A tow truck operator using a tow truck to conduct wrecker business is required to display an indication detailing the business purpose on the vehicle's regular license plates. This is in lieu of obtaining and displaying a special set of license plates indicating the business purpose in addition to the regular license plates. A fee of $5 is established for the first set of wrecker business license plates, and a fee of $2 is established for each additional set of plates.

The license plate indicator may be either an imprinted symbol or a tab and must be approved by the DOL. Sections of statute that require special license plates indicating transporter, hulk hauler or scrap processor, or wrecker business to be displayed on tow trucks are repealed.