(1) The owner of a vehicle which under reciprocal relations with another jurisdiction would be required to obtain a license registration in this state or an unlicensed vehicle which would be required to obtain a license registration for operation on public highways of this state may, as an alternative to such license registration, secure and operate such vehicle under authority of a trip permit issued by this state in lieu of a Washington certificate of license registration, and licensed gross weight if applicable. The licensed gross weight may not exceed eighty thousand pounds for a combination of vehicles nor forty thousand pounds for a single unit vehicle with three or more axles. Trip permits are required for movement of mobile homes or park model trailers and may only be issued if property taxes are paid in full. For the purpose of this section, a vehicle is considered unlicensed if the licensed gross weight currently in effect for the vehicle or combination of vehicles is not adequate for the load being carried. Vehicles registered under RCW 46.16.135 shall not be operated under authority of trip permits in lieu of further registration within the same registration year.

     (2) Each trip permit shall authorize the operation of a single vehicle at the maximum legal weight limit for such vehicle for a period of three consecutive days commencing with the day of first use. No more than three such permits may be used for any one vehicle in any period of thirty consecutive days, except that in the case of a recreational vehicle as defined in RCW 43.22.335, no more than two trip permits may be used for any one vehicle in a one-year period. Every permit shall identify, as the department may require, the vehicle for which it is issued and shall be completed in its entirety and signed by the operator before operation of the vehicle on the public highways of this state. Correction of data on the permit such as dates, license number, or vehicle identification number invalidates the permit. The trip permit shall be displayed on the vehicle to which it is issued as prescribed by the department.

     (3) Vehicles operating under authority of trip permits are subject to all laws, rules, and regulations affecting the operation of like vehicles in this state.

     (4) Prorate operators operating commercial vehicles on trip permits in Washington shall retain the customer copy of such permit for four years.

     (5) Trip permits may be obtained from field offices of the department of transportation, department of licensing, or other agents appointed by the department. The fee for each trip permit is twenty dollars. Five dollars from every twenty-dollar trip permit fee shall be deposited into the state patrol highway account and must be used for commercial motor vehicle inspections. For each permit issued, the fee includes a filing fee as provided by RCW 46.01.140 and an excise tax of one dollar. The remaining portion of the trip permit fee must be deposited to the credit of the motor vehicle fund as an administrative fee. If the filing fee amount of three dollars as prescribed in RCW 46.01.140 is increased or decreased after July 1, 2002, the administrative fee must be increased or decreased by the same amount so that the total trip permit would be adjusted equally to compensate. These fees and taxes are in lieu of all other vehicle license fees and taxes. No exchange, credits, or refunds may be given for trip permits after they have been purchased.

     (6) The department may appoint county auditors or businesses as agents for the purpose of selling trip permits to the public. County auditors or businesses so appointed may retain the filing fee collected for each trip permit to defray expenses incurred in handling and selling the permits.

     (7) Commercial motor vehicles that are owned by a motor carrier subject to RCW 46.32.080, must not be operated on trip permits authorized by RCW 46.16.160 or 46.16.162 if the motor carrier's department of transportation number has been placed out of service by the Washington state patrol. A violation of or a failure to comply with this subsection is a gross misdemeanor, subject to a minimum monetary penalty of two thousand five hundred dollars for the first violation and five thousand dollars for each subsequent violation.

     (8) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, a violation of or a failure to comply with any provision of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

     (9) The department of licensing may adopt rules as it deems necessary to administer this section.

     (10) A surcharge of five dollars is imposed on the issuance of trip permits. The portion of the surcharge paid by motor carriers must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund for the purpose of supporting vehicle weigh stations, weigh-in-motion programs, and the commercial vehicle information systems and networks program. The remaining portion of the surcharge must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund for the purpose of supporting congestion relief programs. All other administrative fees and excise taxes collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be forwarded by the department with proper identifying detailed report to the state treasurer who shall deposit the administrative fees to the credit of the motor vehicle fund and the excise taxes to the credit of the general fund. Filing fees will be forwarded and reported to the state treasurer by the department as prescribed in RCW 46.01.140.

[2007 c 419 § 6. Prior: 2002 c 352 § 8; 2002 c 168 § 5; 1999 c 270 § 1; 1996 c 184 § 2; 1993 c 102 § 2; 1987 c 244 § 6; 1981 c 318 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 22 § 5; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 64 § 6; 1969 ex.s. c 170 § 8; 1961 c 306 § 1; 1961 c 12 § 46.16.160; prior: 1957 c 273 § 3; 1955 c 384 § 17; 1949 c 174 § 1; 1947 c 176 § 1; 1937 c 188 § 24; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 6312-24.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Short title -- Application -- 2007 c 419: See notes following RCW 46.16.004.

     Effective dates -- 2002 c 352: See note following RCW 46.09.070.

     Effective date -- 1996 c 184: See note following RCW 46.16.010.

     Effective date of 1993 c 102 and c 123 -- 1993 sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.16.070.

     Severability -- 1977 ex.s. c 22: See note following RCW 46.04.302.

     Effective dates -- Severability -- 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 64: See notes following RCW 46.16.070.