RCW 46.16.015
Emission control inspections required -- Exceptions -- Educational information. (Effective until July 1, 2011. Recodified as RCW 46.16A.060.)

(1) Neither the department of licensing nor its agents may issue or renew a motor vehicle license for any vehicle or change the registered owner of a licensed vehicle, for any vehicle that is required to be inspected under chapter 70.120 RCW, unless the application for issuance or renewal is: (a) Accompanied by a valid certificate of compliance or a valid certificate of acceptance issued pursuant to chapter 70.120 RCW; or (b) exempted from this requirement pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The certificates must have a date of validation which is within six months of the date of application for the vehicle license or license renewal. Certificates for fleet or owner tested diesel vehicles may have a date of validation which is within twelve months of the assigned license renewal date.

     (2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the following vehicles:

     (a) New motor vehicles whose equitable or legal title has never been transferred to a person who in good faith purchases the vehicle for purposes other than resale;

     (b) Motor vehicles with a model year of 1967 or earlier;

     (c) Motor vehicles that use propulsion units powered exclusively by electricity;

     (d) Motor vehicles fueled by propane, compressed natural gas, or liquid petroleum gas, unless it is determined that federal sanctions will be imposed as a result of this exemption;

     (e) Motorcycles as defined in RCW 46.04.330 and motor-driven cycles as defined in RCW 46.04.332;

     (f) Farm vehicles as defined in RCW 46.04.181;

     (g) Used vehicles which are offered for sale by a motor vehicle dealer licensed under chapter 46.70 RCW;

     (h) Classes of motor vehicles exempted by the director of the department of ecology;

     (i) Collector cars as identified by the department of licensing under RCW 46.16.305(1);

     (j) Beginning January 1, 2000, vehicles that are less than five years old or more than twenty-five years old; or

     (k) Hybrid motor vehicles that obtain a rating by the environmental protection agency of at least fifty miles per gallon of gas during city driving. For purposes of this section, a hybrid motor vehicle is one that uses propulsion units powered by both electricity and gas.

     The provisions of (a) of this subsection may not be construed as exempting from the provisions of subsection (1) of this section applications for the renewal of licenses for motor vehicles that are or have been leased.

     (3) The department of ecology shall provide information to motor vehicle owners regarding the boundaries of emission contributing areas and restrictions established under this section that apply to vehicles registered in such areas. In addition the department of ecology shall provide information to motor vehicle owners on the relationship between motor vehicles and air pollution and steps motor vehicle owners should take to reduce motor vehicle related air pollution. The department of licensing shall send to all registered motor vehicle owners affected by the emission testing program notice that they must have an emission test to renew their registration.

[2002 c 24 § 1; 1998 c 342 § 6; 1991 c 199 § 209; 1990 c 42 § 318; 1989 c 240 § 1; 1985 c 7 § 111. Prior: 1983 c 238 § 1; 1983 c 237 § 3; 1980 c 176 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 163 § 11.]

NOTES:

     Finding -- 1991 c 199: See note following RCW 70.94.011.

     Effective dates -- Severability -- Captions not law -- 1991 c 199: See RCW 70.94.904 through 70.94.906.

     Purpose -- Headings -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- Implementation -- 1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.

     Effective date -- 1989 c 240: See RCW 70.120.902.

     Severability -- 1983 c 238: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1983 c 238 § 3.]

     Legislative finding -- 1983 c 237: See note following RCW 46.37.467.

     Effective date -- 1979 ex.s. c 163 § 11: "Section 11 of this act shall take effect on January 1, 1982. The director of the department of licensing and the director of the department of ecology are authorized to take immediately such steps as are necessary to ensure that section 11 of this act is implemented on its effective date." [1979 ex.s. c 163 § 16.]

     Severability -- 1979 ex.s. c 163: See note following RCW 70.120.010.