HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1237
As Passed House:
February 2, 2023
Title: An act relating to distribution of the vehicle identification number inspection fee.
Brief Description: Redistributing the vehicle identification number inspection fee.
Sponsors: Representatives Robertson and Fey.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 1/23/23, 1/26/23 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/2/23, 98-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Distributes the entire $65 vehicle identification number inspection fee to the State Patrol Highway Account to support the activities of the Washington State Patrol.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 29 members:Representatives Fey, Chair; Donaghy, Vice Chair; Paul, Vice Chair; Timmons, Vice Chair; Barkis, Ranking Minority Member; Hutchins, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Low, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Robertson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berry, Bronoske, Chapman, Cortes, Dent, Doglio, Duerr, Entenman, Goehner, Griffey, Hackney, Klicker, Mena, Orcutt, Ramel, Ramos, Schmidt, Taylor, Volz, Walsh and Wylie.
Staff: Beth Redfield (786-7140).
Background:

Before accepting an application for a certificate of title, a certificate of vehicle inspection by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) is required if the vehicle:

  • was declared a total loss or salvage vehicle;
  • has been rebuilt after the certificate was returned to the Department of Licensing; 
  • is from another state, was a total loss or salvage, and does not have a valid registration from the other state;
  • is being titled for the first time and is an assembled vehicle or subject to ownership in doubt; or
  • has a vehicle identification number (VIN) that has been altered, obliterated, removed, or is otherwise absent.

 
The inspection must verify that the VIN is genuine and agrees with the number shown on the certificate of title and registration certificate.  As part of the inspection, a VIN specialist must ensure that all major component parts used for the reconstruction of a salvage or rebuilt vehicle were obtained legally.
 
The fee for the VIN inspection is $65, with $15 distributed to the State Patrol Highway Account to support the activities of the WSP.  The remaining $50 is distributed to the Motor Vehicle Account for general support of highway purposes.
Summary of Bill:

The $65 VIN inspection fee is entirely distributed to the State Patrol Highway Account to support the activities of the WSP.

 

A technical correction is made to the statutory reference for the distribution of the VIN inspection fee.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2023.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This issue came to light during budget discussions in 2022.  The current VIN inspection program is underfunded and the fee revenue was not going to the program.  The 2022 Supplemental Transportation Budget included this shift of the entirety of the revenue, but it was only for one year.  This bill codifies this to ensure that the VIN inspection program is fully funded.  As a consumer, one would expect that the entire $65 fee is to pay for the VIN inspection.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Eric Robertson, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.