Scott Abels, a NOW volunteer, puts a notice on a car with an out-of-state license plate in the Landover-Sharmel neighborhood. (The Columbian files)
Two state senators from Clark County have introduced a seemingly counterintuitive way to crack down on new Washington residents who don’t get their vehicles registered: give these scofflaws a break.
Under state law, new Washington residents must register their cars within 30 days of moving. But there are currently an estimated 20,000 vehicles in Clark County that are registered in Oregon in order to avoid taxes, which is costing state and local governments revenue.
Drivers who don’t properly register their vehicles in Washington are committing a gross misdemeanor and subject to a penalty totaling $1,529. Under current state law, the penalty can’t be deferred or suspended.
State Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, said the law would be enforced more effectively if there were some degree of leniency with the steep fines. She and state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, have sponsored SB 6293 that would allow counties to set up a deferred prosecution program for people who’ve been cited for failing to register a vehicle. Under the program, someone caught not properly registering their vehicle would see the citation dismissed if they pay a $500 fine and come into compliance within 90 days.
“I think we could really pick up a lot of revenue with this if we can get these people to comply,” said Wilson at a public hearing of the Senate Transportation Committee last week.
The city of Vancouver estimates it could be losing about $317,937 annually. Wilson cited numbers from the Washington Department of Revenue that the state loses over $16 million in sales tax revenue.
She said part of the problem is that law enforcement is reluctant to cite people because the current penalty is so steep.
Speaking at the hearing, James McMahon, policy director for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, said that, troubling as it seems, many officers are reluctant to write people such costly tickets.
“I think we are seeing an under enforcement of this offense,” he said.
He said his association supports the bill but suggested that deferred prosecutions be only offered to offenders once.
Mark Brown, lobbyist for the city of Vancouver, said the city supports the bill calling it a “creative approach” to the problem. The Clark County Council decided last week to support the measure as well.
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