DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

[Filed December 23, 2025, 7:57 p.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 25-15-157.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 308-61 WAC, Unauthorized and abandoned vehicles.

Hearing Location(s): On January 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., via Zoom meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84696525324?pwd=MclwUOgqSDoJA0e7gXVBPEhbaQoKxx.1, Meeting ID 846 9652 5324, Passcode 373921; or dial in by phone at +12532050468,,84696525324#,,,,*373921# US, +12532158782,,84696525324#,,,,*373921# US (Tacoma). Link to join the virtual meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/84696525324/invitations?signature=Ifw1Kd33SFq5wlAQTODx6JjkvEEtNgVC6_nvTpB9Z-s.

If you are having trouble accessing the virtual meeting, please call 360-902-3486 at the time of the hearing to request assistance. Please email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov if you would like to request an interpreter, or other accommodations, at least one week in advance of the public hearing.

PLEASE NOTE: Hearing participants are encouraged to attend in person or be prepared to use the telephonic option (call in) if they experience technical difficulties. In-person attendance will take place at the Highways and Licensing Building, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501.

Date of Intended Adoption: January 30, 2026.

Submit Written Comments to: Ellis Starrett, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov, beginning January 7, 2026, by January 29, 2026.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Ellis Starrett, phone 360-902-3846, email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov, by January 19, 2026.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Amending various requirements and redundant language such as requiring registered tow truck operators (RTTOs) to report many identifying details of an abandoned vehicle; clarifying that requests for reimbursement can be submitted online; allowing RTTOs to complete their processes by including other authorized disposal sites for abandoned vehicles; and clarifying that rejected cases for reimbursement will have one opportunity to appeal this decision per vehicle, per requestor.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed amendments will improve the efficiency of the abandoned recreational vehicle (RV) program and remove unnecessary barriers for the department of licensing's (DOL) processing partners.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.53.010 Registered tow truck operators, vehicle wreckers, scrap processors, and scrap metal businesses may apply for cost reimbursement for towing, transporting, storing, dismantling, and disposing abandoned recreational vehicles—Department to develop rules—Stakeholder work group.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 46.53.010 Registered tow truck operators, vehicle wreckers, scrap processors, and scrap metal businesses may apply for cost reimbursement for towing, transporting, storing, dismantling, and disposing abandoned recreational vehicles—Department to develop rules—Stakeholder work group.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: DOL, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Ellis Starrett, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, 360-902-3846; Implementation: Sina Talalemotu, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, 360-902-4004; and Enforcement: George Price, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, 360-902-0120.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a) does not apply.

This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:

Explanation of exemptions: RCW 46.53.010 requires DOL to perform rule making on this topic.

Scope of exemption for rule proposal:

The proposed rule does not impose more-than-minor costs on businesses. Following is a summary of the agency's analysis showing how costs were calculated. DOL engaged with industry members who participate in the abandoned RV program. DOL provided proposed rule language and invited participants to join in a work group to discuss and negotiate the specifics of this rule making. The goal of the meeting was to ensure DOL could address or mitigate any unintended impacts to program participants, as well as gather additional ideas or suggestions for rules that could be amended or addressed by DOL. After discussion with industry partners, the proposed changes only seek to improve agency processes to make processing and applying for reimbursement requests more efficient. These changes either make the program more accessible to businesses (clarifying the use of online submission of cases) or improve the efficiency of agency processes. After the work group, DOL sent out the final proposed language for review and input from participants and work group attendees. There were no financial impacts on participants that were identified. There were no other issues raised that could be addressed through rule making.

Legislative Policy Analyst

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-11-007, filed 5/2/19, effective 6/1/19)

WAC 308-61-195Abandoned recreational vehicle—Criteria and required information.

(1) ((What costs will be reimbursed? Vehicles will be reimbursed for qualified towing, transporting, storing, dismantling, and disposal costs commencing May 1, 2019, and after. Activities prior to May 1, 2019, are not reimbursable.

(2)))What are the criteria for an abandoned recreational vehicle to be eligible for reimbursement? The vehicle must((:

(a) Be impounded from public property;

(b) Be abandoned pursuant to chapter 46.55 RCW;

(d) Have received no bids at auction; or

(e) Be declared an abandoned junk vehicle by a law enforcement officer))be towed, stored, and/or dismantled according to existing statute.

(((3)))(2)What vehicle information must be provided to the department upon request for reimbursement? All required information, if known, as listed on the department-approved form, to include at a minimum:

(a) Vehicle identification number (VIN);

(b) ((Model year;

(d) Model;

(e) Body style;

(f))) Length; and

(((g)))(c) Vehicle type((;

(h) Plate number; and

(i) Plate state)).

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-11-007, filed 5/2/19, effective 6/1/19)

WAC 308-61-197Abandoned recreational vehicle—Application and review.

(1) What is the application process?

(a) All vehicles must first be handled through the abandoned vehicle process with an abandoned vehicle report (AVR) submitted to the department, or through the junk vehicle affidavit process.

(b) The requestor will make the request through department of licensing's online portal or by mail.

(c) The requestor will be registered through the office of financial management as a statewide vendor with a statewide vendor number.

(d) The requestor asking for reimbursement must be one of the following businesses and be licensed at time of the activity in which requesting reimbursement:

(i) A registered tow truck operator (RTTO), as defined by RCW 46.55.010(7);

(ii) A vehicle wrecker, as defined by RCW 46.80.010(5);

(iii) A scrap processor, as defined by RCW 46.79.010(2);

(iv) A scrap metal business, as defined by RCW 19.290.010(10);

(v) An authorized disposal site.

(((c)))(e) Each business must complete their process before making application for reimbursement for that vehicle:

(i) An RTTO's process is considered complete when the vehicle is moved to a licensed vehicle wrecker ((or)), scrap processor, or authorized disposal site for disposal. A written record of delivery to a licensed dismantler or authorized disposal site will also be required with the abandoned recreational vehicle application. A copy of that report shall be maintained in the RTTO's vehicle transaction file.

(ii) A vehicle wrecker, scrap processor, or scrap metal business's process is considered complete when the vehicle has been dismantled and/or destroyed in a way that no major component remains useable as the original vehicle. It shall be included on the wrecker monthly report as a destroyed vehicle and a certificate of fact (available on the department's website) stating that the vehicle has been properly and completely destroyed in such manner as to not be usable as a vehicle, again.

(((d)))(f) A request must be submitted on a form prescribed by the department and include a copy of the original AVR, junk title affidavit or title or wrecker/salvage processor monthly report and complete supporting documentation including written record of transport to a licensed dismantler or disposal site and all receipts verifying all costs requested for reimbursement.

(((e)))(g) The RTTO, vehicle wrecker, scrap processor, or scrap metal business must submit their request for reimbursement ((by the end of the subsequent month following))within 60 days of the activity.

(2) What is the review process?

(a) All requests will be reviewed and processed in the order received.

(b) The application and all required supporting documentation will be reviewed for the vehicle's eligibility and completeness.

(c) ((Once all qualifying criteria are met, a notation will be made on the record for that vehicle or a new record will be created for the vehicle.

(d) All vehicles reviewed will be grouped by each individual business submitting the request and in the order received in order to process one monthly payment.

(e) A vehicle summary and totals will be calculated and a disbursement will be ordered by the fifth business day of the following month.

(f)))Cases will be sent for disbursement to the appropriate unit within 60 days of submission, as staffing and administration funding allows.

(d) Incomplete applications will be returned to the business and will be eligible for reconsideration ((based on the new date of submission)).

(3) Can I appeal an application that has been denied reimbursement?

(a) Yes. If an abandoned recreational vehicle has been denied for reimbursement by the department, the business shall be notified by the department in writing what information is required to complete the application for reimbursement or the reasons why the vehicle failed to meet the required criteria. The vehicle may be resubmitted with any required information for additional review within 30 days or be ineligible for an appeal.

(b) If the appeal has been reviewed and the vehicle is found to meet all requirements for reimbursement, the vehicle will be processed in the current month and order the appeal was received. ((Disbursements will be made by the fifth business day of the following month.))

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-11-007, filed 5/2/19, effective 6/1/19)

WAC 308-61-203Abandoned recreational vehicle—Reimbursements.

(1) When will the reimbursement happen? The abandoned RV program manager will process all reimbursement by the fifth business day of the month following the month that the reimbursement was received on vehicles that have met all criteria for eligibility.

(2) How/when will I get notified of the reimbursement?

(a) No confirmation of receipt for an application for reimbursement will be sent on any vehicle.

(b) ((If a qualified business is receiving a reimbursement for any vehicles that have been submitted, the business will receive one payment for the total of any qualified disbursements processed during the prior month along with a letter of confirmation for the vehicles included in that reimbursement.

(c))) If a vehicle is not eligible for reimbursement, the department shall notify the business of the determination in writing.

(3) What if funds for reimbursements are unavailable? The reimbursements are dependent upon sufficient funding within the abandoned recreational vehicle account. If sufficient funds are not currently available when an otherwise eligible request is received, the department will hold the request in the order it was received. The department ((shall notify the requestor in writing that the request is being held))will send a notification via LISTSERV newsletter and website notification banner that the program's spending authority has been depleted. When funding within the abandoned recreational vehicle account is sufficient for disbursement the department will process requests being held for that business in the order they were received.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-20-103, filed 10/3/23, effective 11/3/23)

WAC 308-61-215Abandoned recreational vehicle—Rates and caps.

At what rates will reimbursements be made?

(1) The costs will be reimbursed at a standardized scheduled rate:

Item	Standard Rate	Cap
Towing and Transport (Increment per Hour - Maximum Four Hours Total for Identified RV Length)
Towing up to 29'	$150.00/hr.	$600.00
Towing 30' and Over	$220.00/hr.	$888.00
Ferry Fees	As Incurred	$350.00
Storage (Increment per Day per RV Length - Maximum 20 Days Total) (((*May Excludes Junk Vehicles)))
Standard Storage up to 29'	$40.00/day	$800.00
Storage 30' and Over	$60.00/day	$1,200.00
Dismantling and Disposal (Increment per RV Length)
30' to 46'	$80.00/ft.	$3,680.00
20' to 29'	$75.00/ft.	$2,175.00
Up to 19'	$70.00/ft.	$1,330.00

(2) Abandoned recreational vehicle length must be indicated by an annotation on the signed tow authorization, junk vehicle affidavit, affidavit of sale, or a certificate of fact.

(3) Total length of the recreational vehicle shall be determined by measuring the vehicle type as follows:

(a) Motor homes: Measured in feet of total length from the front bumper to the rear bumper, excluding attached storage boxes or trailer or tow hitches.

(b) Travel trailers: Measured in feet of total length from the front of the box to the rear bumper, excluding the front trailer tongue, attached storage boxes or any additional trailer or tow hitches from rear bumper. Fifth-wheel trailers may include the front-cap.

(c) Campers: Measured in feet of total length from the front of the cab-over box to the rear of the box, excluding any attached storage boxes or other accessories.

(4) Adjustments made to rates and caps may not be applied to previously submitted claims which already received a disbursement from the department.