(1) Effective January 1, 1997, the department shall issue a unique certificate of ownership and certificate of license registration, as required by chapter 46.16 RCW, for vehicles that are rebuilt after becoming a salvage vehicle. Each certificate shall conspicuously display across its front, a word indicating that the vehicle was rebuilt.

     (2) Beginning January 1, 1997, upon inspection of a salvage vehicle that has been rebuilt under RCW 46.12.030, the state patrol shall securely affix or inscribe a marking at the driver's door latch pillar indicating that the vehicle has previously been destroyed or declared a total loss.

     (3) It is a class C felony for a person to remove the marking prescribed in subsection (2) of this section.

     (4) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

[1996 c 26 § 3; 1995 c 256 § 24.]