Subject to removal after: |
(a) | Public locations: |
(i) | Constituting an accident or a traffic hazard as |
(ii) | On a highway and tagged as described in RCW 46.55.085 . . . . 24 hours |
(iii) | In a publicly owned or controlled parking facility, properly posted under RCW 46.55.070 . . . . Immediately |
(iv) | ((During the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, within the))Within the right-of-way used by a regional transit authority for high capacity transportation where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to the operation of high capacity transportation vehicles or jeopardizes public safety. . . . Immediately |
(b) | Private locations: |
(i) | On residential property . . . . Immediately |
(ii) | On private, nonresidential property, properly posted under RCW 46.55.070 . . . . Immediately |
(iii) | On private, nonresidential property, not posted . . . . 24 hours |
Sec. 2. RCW
46.55.080 and 2022 c 186 s 709 are each reenacted to read as follows:
(1) If a vehicle is in violation of the time restrictions of RCW
46.55.010(14), it may be impounded by a registered tow truck operator at the direction of a law enforcement officer, authorized regional transit authority representative under the conditions described in RCW
46.55.010(14)(a)(iv), or other public official with jurisdiction if the vehicle is on public property, or at the direction of the property owner or an agent if it is on private property. A law enforcement officer may also direct the impoundment of a vehicle pursuant to a writ or court order.
(2) The person requesting a private impound or a law enforcement officer, authorized regional transit authority representative, or public official requesting a public impound shall provide a signed authorization for the impound at the time and place of the impound to the registered tow truck operator before the operator may proceed with the impound. A registered tow truck operator, employee, or his or her agent may not serve as an agent of a property owner for the purposes of signing an impound authorization or, independent of the property owner, identify a vehicle for impound.
(3) In the case of a private impound, the impound authorization shall include the following statement: "A person authorizing this impound, if the impound is found in violation of chapter
46.55 RCW, may be held liable for the costs incurred by the vehicle owner."
(4) A registered tow truck operator shall record and keep in the operator's files the date and time that a vehicle is put in the operator's custody and released. The operator shall make an entry into a master log regarding transactions relating to impounded vehicles. The operator shall make this master log available, upon request, to representatives of the department or the state patrol.
(5) A person who engages in or offers to engage in the activities of a registered tow truck operator may not be associated in any way with a person or business whose main activity is authorizing the impounding of vehicles."
EFFECT: Limits the definition of an unauthorized vehicle subject to immediate impoundment in instances when a vehicle in a public location constitutes an obstruction to the operation of high capacity transportation vehicles or jeopardizes public safety to instances when a vehicle is within, rather than on or within 10 feet of, the right-of-way used by a regional transit authority.
--- END ---