PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 03-06-052.
Title of Rule: To amend chapter 468-70 WAC, so that certain rules conflicting with 2002 legislative activity are corrected.
Purpose: The proposed rule repeals installation and application fees the Department of Transportation changes [charges] for motorist information signs.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 47.36.310 and 47.36.320.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 47.36 RCW.
Summary: The proposed rule repeals installation and application fees the Department of Transportation changes [charges] for motorist information signs.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Legislative action directed the department to select a private contractor to administer the motorist information program and eliminated department funding to run the program. The proposed rule repeals existing fees and allows the department to charge reasonable amounts to off-set program costs until a contractor assume[s] responsibility for the program.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Mike Dornfeld, Olympia, Washington, (360) 705-7288; Implementation and Enforcement: Toby Rickman, Olympia, Washington, (360) 705-7280.
Name of Proponent: Mike Dornfeld, Washington State Department of Transportation, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The proposed rule repeals installation and application fees the Department of Transportation changes [charges] for motorist information signs. Legislative action directed the department to select a private contractor to administer the motorist information program and eliminated department funding to run the program. The proposed rule repeals existing fees and allows the department to charge reasonable amounts to off-set program costs until a contractor assume[s] responsibility for the program.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: The changes repeal application and installation fees for motorist information signs and other rules regarding motorist information sign application and installation procedures.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule does not add significant regulatory requirements to small businesses per chapter 19.85 RCW.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. The proposed changes do not meet the requirements outlined in RCW 34.04.328 [34.05.328].
Hearing Location: Washington State Department of Transportation, Commission Board Room, 310 Maple Park Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, on September 25, 2003, at 9:30 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact TDD (800) 833-6388.
Submit Written Comments to: Toby Rickman, Washington State Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 47344, Olympia, WA 98504-7344, fax (360) 705-6826, by September 1, 2003.
Date of Intended Adoption: September 25, 2003.
August 4, 2003
John F. Conrad
Assistant Secretary
OTS-6215.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 196, filed 12/22/99,
effective 1/22/00)
WAC 468-70-070
Permits and procedure.
(1) No business
signs will be installed on motorist information sign panels
prior to issuance of a permit by the department. Permits will
be issued by the department in accordance with this chapter.
(2) Permit applications will be accepted at the appropriate department of transportation regional office in care of the regional administrator. Applications transmitted by mail shall be effective from date of receipt rather than of mailing.
(3) One permit application will be for all the signing that the applicant will qualify for at a single interchange or intersection.
(4) Application forms, which may be obtained from the department, shall contain the following information:
(a) Name and address of the owner of the business to be advertised.
(b) The highway for which the applicant seeks signing.
(c) A description of the interchange or intersection for which the business sign is to be installed.
(d) A statement of the business location including exact travel distance from the interchange or intersection and precise roads used for access.
(e) An agreement to limit the height of any on-premise sign to no greater than fifteen feet higher than the roof of the main building, measured to the bottom of the sign for businesses located within one mile of an interchange or intersection. (Not applicable along interstate highways if the sign is not visible to the highway.)
Pursuant to RCW 47.36.310, for on-premise signs visible along rural interstate highways the department may waive the fifteen-foot height requirement, on a case-by-case basis, where granting the waiver will not preclude another business having an on-premise sign which complies with the fifteen-foot height requirement from receiving business signs.
(f) Such other information as may be required by the department.
(5) Each permit application will include a sketch, drawing or picture of the message to be placed on the business signs. Business signs may not display messages advertising products or services incidental to the qualifying motorist service activity. The department shall have final approval of the design of the business sign and may modify such submissions to achieve uniformity.
(6) ((A nonrefundable application processing fee as
prescribed in WAC 468-70-080 (1)(a) will accompany each
application. Such fee may only be refunded if, after
approval, the activity is not signed for reasons caused by the
department.
(7))) Any party aggrieved by an application determination of the department shall be accorded hearing rights before the secretary of transportation or his designee pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW.
(((8))) (7) Fabrication and installation of business
signs:
(a) Once an application is approved, the department will
request the business to provide the signs for installation. Such signs shall be built to the department's specifications
prescribed by WAC 468-70-060. Prior to installation the
business shall ((be billed and pay for the installation cost
prescribed in WAC 468-70-080 (1)(b))) agree to reimburse the
department for the actual installation costs.
(b) ((When requested by a business, the department will
manufacture business signs composed of standard solid color
background with standard die cut or silk screened highway sign
letters used for messages. The department does not
manufacture business signs having nonstandard colors,
nonstandard letters, or pictorial business symbols or
trademarks. The manufacturing and installation fees for
business signs manufactured by the department are prescribed
in WAC 468-70-080 (2)(a) or (b), and shall be prepaid prior to
manufacture and installation.)) The reimbursable business sign
installation fees referenced in (a) of this subsection may
vary from sign site to sign site.
(((9))) (8) Business sign and motorist information sign
panel maintenance and replacement:
(a) ((For a business which provides its own business
signs to the department, an annual permit fee of fifty dollars
shall be charged. (Effective January 1, 2001, this annual
permit fee will no longer be charged by the department.)))
Maintenance replacement business signs shall be provided by
the business, when requested by the department to replace
weather worn business signs. The department will install the
replacement business sign after ((prepayment for the
installation fees as prescribed in WAC 468-70-080 (1)(b))) the
business agrees to reimburse the department for the actual
installation costs as described in subsection (7) of this
section.
(b) ((For business signs manufactured by the department,
the department will notify businesses when business signs need
replacement because of weather wear and will manufacture and
install such replacement business signs after prepayment for
the manufacturing and installation fees prescribed in WAC 468-70-080 (2)(a) or (b).
(c))) The annual maintenance replacement fee charged to
each business for motorist information sign back panels is
((prescribed in WAC 468-70-080(3))) one hundred dollars for
businesses signed at interchanges and thirty-five dollars for
businesses signed at intersections.
(((d))) (c) Annual maintenance fees shall be paid within
thirty calendar days after the anniversary of the permit
issue. These fees will not be prorated for fractions of the
year in the event of business sign removal or coverage. Failure to pay the annual maintenance fees within thirty
calendar days after the anniversary of the permit issue will
cause the permit to expire and the business signs to be
removed from the motorist information sign panels.
(((10))) (9) In the event of change of ownership or
operation, assignment of permits in good standing shall be
effective only upon receipt of assignment by the department. The department will not reassign permits in the event of
change of both ownership and operation.
(((11))) (10) Revocation and expiration:
(a) After hearing before the secretary of transportation or his designee, as required by chapter 34.05 RCW (Administrative Procedure Act) and the rules and regulations of the department adopted pursuant thereto, any permit may be revoked by the secretary or the secretary's designee who has conducted the hearing for any of the following reasons:
(i) For the making of any false or misleading statements in the application for any permit, whether or not the same is material to or relied upon by the department in the issuance of such permit when such false or misleading statement or information shall remain uncorrected after the expiration of thirty days following written notification thereof.
(ii) For allowing or suffering any on-premise sign to remain that exceeds the height requirements set forth in this chapter.
(iii) For failure to provide the services and/or facilities required by WAC 468-70-050 and this section.
(b) If a permit is revoked or is allowed to expire, a new application may be accepted by the department and the motorist service activity must meet the requirements of any other applying motorist service activity.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 34.05 RCW and RCW 47.42.060. 00-01-184 (Order 196), § 468-70-070, filed 12/22/99, effective 1/22/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 47.36.030. 95-23-098 (Order 153), § 468-70-070, filed 11/21/95, effective 1/1/96. Statutory Authority: Chapter 47.42 RCW and RCW 47.01.101. 91-17-012 (Order 129), § 468-70-070, filed 8/13/91, effective 9/13/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 47.42.046 and 47.42.047. 88-22-001 (Order 115), § 468-70-070, filed 10/20/88. Statutory Authority: Chapter 47.42 RCW. 87-01-054 (Order 106), § 468-70-070, filed 12/16/86; 85-17-012 (Order 96), § 468-70-070, filed 8/12/85. Statutory Authority: 1977 ex.s. c 151. 79-01-033 (DOT Order 10 and Comm. Order 1, Resolution No. 13), § 468-70-070, filed 12/20/78. Formerly WAC 252-42-060.]
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 468-70-080 | Fee schedule. |