AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle licensing reciprocity; amending RCW 46.16.020 and 46.16.270; and adding new sections to chapter 46.16 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 46.16.020, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 5, chapter 169, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. and RCW 46.16.020 are each amended to read as follows:

Any vehicle owned, rented, or leased by the state of Washington, or by any county, city, town, school district, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington and used exclusively by them, and all vehicles owned or leased with an option to purchase by the United States government, or by the government of foreign countries, or by international bodies to which the United States government is a signatory by treaty, or owned or leased by the governing body of an Indian tribe located within this state and recognized as a governmental entity by the United States department of the interior, and used exclusively in its or their service shall be exempt from the payment of license fees for the licensing thereof as in this chapter provided: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That such vehicles, except those owned and used exclusively by the United States government and which are identified by clearly exhibited registration numbers or license plates assigned by an instrumentality of that government, shall be registered as prescribed for the license registration of other vehicles and shall display the vehicle license number plates assigned to it. The department shall assign a plate or plates to each vehicle or may assign a block of plates to an agency or political subdivision for further assignment by the agency or political subdivision to individual vehicles registered to it pursuant to this section. The agency ((or)), political subdivision, or Indian tribe, except a foreign government or international body, shall pay a fee of two dollars for the plate or plates for each vehicle((~~: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That~~)). An Indian tribe is not entitled to license and register any tribal government service vehicle under this section if that tribe itself licenses or registers any tribal government service vehicles under tribal law. No vehicle license or license number plates shall be issued to any such vehicle under the provisions of this section for the transportation of school children unless and until such vehicle shall have been first personally inspected by the director or ((~~his~~)) the director's duly authorized representative.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The provisions of this chapter relating to licensing of vehicles by this state, including the display of vehicle license number plates and license registration certificates, do not apply to vehicles owned or leased by the governing body of an Indian tribe located within this state and recognized as a governmental entity by the United States department of the interior, only when:

(a) The vehicle is used exclusively in tribal government service; and

(b) The vehicle has been licensed and registered under a law adopted by such tribal government; and

(c) Vehicle license number plates issued by the tribe showing the initial or abbreviation of the name of the tribe are displayed on the vehicle substantially as provided therefor in this state; and

(d) The tribe has not elected to receive any Washington state license plates for tribal government service vehicles pursuant to RCW 46.16.020; and

(e) If required by the department, the tribe provides the department with vehicle description and ownership information similar to that required for vehicles registered in this state, which may include the model year, make, model series, body type, type of power (gasoline, diesel, or other), VIN, and the license plate number assigned to each government service vehicle licensed by that tribe.

(2) The provisions of this section are operative as to a vehicle owned or leased by an Indian tribe located within this state and used exclusively in tribal government service only to the extent that under the laws of the tribe like exemptions and privileges are granted to all vehicles duly licensed under the laws of this state for operation of such vehicles on all tribal roads within the tribe's reservation. If under the laws of the tribe, persons operating vehicles licensed by this state are required to pay a license or registration fee or to carry or display vehicle license number plates or a registration certificate issued by the tribe, the tribal government shall comply with the provisions of this state's laws relating to the licensing and registration of vehicles operating on the highways of this state.

Sec. 3. Section 46.16.270, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 7, chapter 169, Laws of 1975 1st ex. sess. and RCW 46.16.270 are each amended to read as follows:

Upon the loss, defacement, or destruction of one or both of the vehicle license number plates issued for any vehicle where more than one plate was originally issued or where one or both have become so illegible or in such a condition as to be difficult to distinguish, the owner of the vehicle shall make application for new vehicle license number plates upon a form furnished by the director, upon which form it shall be required that the owner, in addition to other requirements, make a complete statement as to the cause of the loss, defacement, or destruction of the original plate or plates, which statement shall be subscribed and sworn to before a notary public or other person authorized to certify to statements upon vehicle license applications. Such application shall be filed with the director or ((~~his~~)) the director's authorized agent, accompanied by the certificate of license registration of the vehicle and a fee in the amount of four dollars, whereupon the director, or ((~~his~~)) the director's authorized agent, shall issue new vehicle license number plates to the applicant. It shall be accompanied by a fee of two dollars for a new vehicle license number plate where only one was originally issued and one dollar for a new motorcycle license number plate. In the event the director has issued license period tabs or a windshield emblem instead of vehicle license number plates, and upon the loss, defacement or destruction of said tabs or windshield emblem, application shall be made on a form provided by the director and in the same manner as above described, and shall be accompanied by a fee of one dollar for each pair of tabs or for each windshield emblem, whereupon the director shall issue to the applicant a duplicate pair of tabs or a windshield emblem to replace those lost, defaced or destroyed: PROVIDED, That for those vehicles owned, rented, or leased by the state of Washington or by any county, city, town, school district, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington or United States government, or owned or leased by the governing body of an Indian tribe as defined in RCW 46.16.020, a fee shall be charged for replacement of a vehicle license number plate only to the extent required by the provisions of RCW 46.16.020, 46.16.061, 46.16.237, and 46.01.140: PROVIDED FURTHER, That for those vehicles owned, rented, or leased by foreign countries or international bodies to which the United States government is a signatory by treaty, the payment of any fee for the replacement of a vehicle license number plate shall not be required.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

The director may make and enforce rules to implement this chapter.