S-3887               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4912

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Peterson, Granlund, Conner, Moore, Stratton and Garrett

Read first time 1/23/86 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to payments to the department of licensing; amending RCW 46.01.230; and prescribing penalties.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 44, chapter 170, Laws of 1965 ex. sess. as last amended by section 39, chapter 136, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 46.01.230 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The department of licensing is authorized to accept checks and money orders for payment of drivers' licenses, certificates of ownership and registration, motor vehicle excise taxes, gross weight fees, and other fees and taxes collected by the department, in accordance with ((regulations)) rules adopted by the director.  The director's ((regulations)) rules shall duly provide for the public's convenience consistent with sound business practice and shall encourage the annual renewal of vehicle registrations by mail to the department, authorizing checks and money orders for payment.  Such ((regulations)) rules shall contain provisions for cancellation of any registrations, licenses, or permits paid for by checks or money orders which are not duly paid and for the necessary accounting procedures in such cases:  PROVIDED, That any bona fide purchaser for value of a  vehicle shall not be liable or responsible for any prior uncollected taxes and fees paid, pursuant to this section, by a check which has subsequently been dishonored:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That no transfer of ownership of a vehicle may be denied to a bona fide purchaser for value of a vehicle if  there are outstanding uncollected fees or taxes for which a predecessor paid, pursuant to this section, by check which has subsequently been dishonored nor shall the new owner be required to pay any fee for replacement vehicle license number plates that may be required pursuant to RCW 46.16.270 ((as now or hereafter amended)).

          (2) ((It is a traffic infraction to fail)) Whenever a licensing transaction has been canceled due to having been paid for by check that has been dishonored by nonacceptance or nonpayment, the holder of the canceled plate, certificate, license, or permit must surrender it to the department of licensing at Olympia, Washington, within ten days of being notified by certified mail that such certificate, license, or permit has been canceled pursuant to this section.  Where a certificate, license, or permit canceled pursuant to this section has not been surrendered within ten days, a penalty fee equal to the face amount of the dishonored check, plus reasonable handling fees, shall be assessed and due the department of licensing.  Failure to surrender within ten days to the department ((or any authorized agent of the department)) of licensing at Olympia, Washington, any certificate, license, or permit after being notified by certified mail that such certificate, license, or permit has been canceled pursuant to this section is a traffic infraction.