A registered tow truck operator's license may be denied, suspended, or revoked, or the licensee may be ordered to pay a monetary penalty of a civil nature, not to exceed one thousand dollars per violation, or the licensee may be subjected to any combination of license and monetary penalty, whenever the director has reason to believe the licensee has committed, or is at the time committing, a violation of this chapter or rules adopted under it or any other statute or rule relating to the title or disposition of vehicles or vehicle hulks, including but not limited to:

     (1) Towing any abandoned vehicle without first obtaining and having in the operator's possession at all times while transporting it, appropriate evidence of ownership or an impound authorization properly executed by the private person or public official having control over the property on which the unauthorized vehicle was found;

     (2) Forging the signature of the registered or legal owner on a certificate of title, or forging the signature of any authorized person on documents pertaining to unauthorized or abandoned vehicles or automobile hulks;

     (3) Failing to comply with the statutes and rules relating to the processing and sale of abandoned vehicles;

     (4) Failing to accept bids on any abandoned vehicle offered at public sale;

     (5) Failing to transmit to the state surplus funds derived from the sale of an abandoned vehicle;

     (6) Selling, disposing of, or having in his or her possession, without notifying law enforcement officials, a vehicle that he or she knows or has reason to know has been stolen or illegally appropriated without the consent of the owner;

     (7) Failing to comply with the statutes and rules relating to the transfer of ownership of vehicles or other procedures after public sale; or

     (8) Failing to pay any civil monetary penalty assessed by the director pursuant to this section within ten days after the assessment becomes final.

     All orders by the director made under this chapter are subject to the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

[2010 c 8 § 9063; 1989 c 111 § 16; 1985 c 377 § 20.]