SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6009

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.

As Passed Senate, February 9, 2018

Title: An act relating to personalized collector vehicle license plates.

Brief Description: Authorizing the issuance of personalized collector vehicle license plates.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Takko, Hobbs, Palumbo, Saldaña, Hunt, Conway, Chase and Mullet).

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/15/18, 1/17/18 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 2/09/18, 42-0.

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

Creates the ability to personalize a collector license plate.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6009 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hobbs, Chair; Saldaña, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Chase, Cleveland, Dhingra, Fortunato, McCoy, Sheldon, Takko, Walsh, Wellman and Zeiger.

Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background: A registered owner may apply for a collector vehicle plate for a motor vehicle that is at least 30 years old. The owner may receive a collector plate that is assigned by the Department of Licensing (DOL) or the owner can provide an actual Washington state-issued license plate designated for general use in the year the vehicle was manufactured. The original registration is $35, and the plates:

are valid for the life of the vehicle;
are not required to be renewed;
may be transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle if the plate was provided by the owner; and
must be displayed on the rear of the motor vehicle.

These vehicles may only be used for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and occasional driving.

Under current law, for an additional fee, license plates displaying the standard background may be personalized using numbers and/or letters. The original registration is $52 for a personalized license plate, and the annual renewal is $42 for the plate.

Provisions do not exist allowing a registered owner to personalize a collector license plate.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: A registered owner with a collector vehicle license plate may personalize their plate for a one-time fee of $52 in addition to the collector license plate fee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on April 1, 2019.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on First Substitute: PRO: This will allow owners of collector vehicles the ability to show off their work. It makes sense to allow collector vehicle owners the ability to have personalized plates without having to renew every year since they only use their vehicles for occasional use. Owners of collector vehicles make contributions to local economies and state revenue collections. The recognition of the hard work and financial investment in their vehicles can be partially rewarded by the ability to make a statement with the personalized plates.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Dean Takko, Prime Sponsor; Don Daniels, citizen; Duane Otteson, citizen.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.