SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5778
As of January 27, 2022
Title: An act relating to addressing the current backlog of vehicle inspections.
Brief Description: Addressing the current backlog of vehicle inspections.
Sponsors: Senators Braun, Honeyford, Lovick, Padden, Short and Wilson, J..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/27/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Washington State Patrol to allow certified local law enforcement agencies or private parties to perform vehicle identification number inspections.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)
Background:

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is required to complete a vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection when a vehicle: 

  • is declared a total loss or salvaged and not kept by the registered owner;
  • has been rebuilt after the certificate of title was returned to the state; or
  • has been presented to the state with documents that show the vehicle was a total loss or salvaged in another state and has not been reissued a valid registration certificate. 

 

A VIN inspection is also required when certain kinds of vehicles are being titled in the state for the first time, including a kit vehicle, a homemade vehicle, a street rod, a custom vehicle, or a vehicle where there is question about the VIN documentation on the vehicle. 

 

The VIN inspection is required by the Department of Licensing before the vehicle owner can receive a certificate of title.  The VIN inspection fee is $65 with $50 being deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund and $15 being deposited into the State Patrol Highway Account.
Summary of Bill:

By January 1, 2023, WSP must establish a voluntary process to allow local law enforcement agencies and qualified private parties to become certified and to actually perform VIN inspections.

 

WSP is directed to establish a certification process to ensure that any local law enforcement agency or qualified private party is able to perform the VIN inspections at a comparable level to the ones conducted by WSP and has adequate protections in place to safeguard personal and private information.  WSP must establish contracts with the local law enforcement agencies or qualified private parties electing to perform VIN inspections which include cost recovery mechanisms.


By October 1, 2022, WSP must provide a report to the Joint Transportation Committee and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee detailing the implementation plan for the voluntary VIN vehicle inspection program and the expected impact on the VIN inspection backlog.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  There has been dramatic growth in the number of vehicle identification number inspections over the last decade and this has put pressure on the State Patrol's ability to do these inspections in a timely manner.  The pandemic has exacerbated this issue and a greater VIN backlog has occurred.  This impacts businesses and citizens across the state.  This is one potential option to address the issue, but there may be other better options.  These options might include adding funding to the State Patrol and increasing their capacity, allowing other entities to perform these inspections, and reviewing the specific types of inspections required and whether all of them are geared towards public safety and reducing criminal behavior.  One of the initial steps might be a study to evaluate the merits of these various options.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator John Braun, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.