SB 5864 — Vehicle insurance verif.

Summary

Concerning verification of motor vehicle insurance.

Bill Text

Compared against the Revised Code of Washington as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 3 section(s) of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 46.16A.130; RCW 46.30.020; RCW 46.63.110.

• RCW 46.16A.130

  read as follows: (1) The department shall notify motor vehicle owners of the liability insurance requirements described in RCW 46.30.020 through 46.30.040 at the time of issuance of an original motor vehicle registration and when the department sends a motor vehicle registration renewal notice. (2)(a) Beginning April 1, 2029, the department must verify if a vehicle owner has liability insurance or other financial responsibility required under RCW 46.30.020 at the time of registration renewal for vehicles subject to license fees under RCW 46.17.350(1) (a), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (j), (k), (n), (o), (p), and (q) through any of the following methods: (i) The online, common carrier-based motor vehicle insurance verification system established under section 1 of this act; (ii) In-person presentation of the vehicle owner's insurance identification card, or other proof of financial responsibility, with a vehicle licensing agent; or (iii) Physical or electronic receipt of a copy of proof of financial responsibility accompanying a vehicle registration renewal. (b) If the online verification system provides that a vehicle owner does not have liability insurance or other financial responsibility or the vehicle owner fails to provide proof of financial responsibility under (a) of this subsection, the department may not issue a vehicle registration renewal until the department receives verification or proof that the vehicle owner has liability insurance or other financial responsibility required under RCW 46.30.020. (c) The department must adopt any rules necessary to implement this subsection (2). When adopting such rules, the department must consider equity and environmental justice principles and impacts to overburdened communities.

  amended

• RCW 46.30.020

  read as follows: (1)(a) No person may operate a motor vehicle subject to registration under chapter 46.16A RCW in this state unless the person is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy with liability limits of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, is self- insured as provided in RCW 46.29.630, is covered by a certificate of deposit in conformance with RCW 46.29.550, or is covered by a liability bond of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090. Proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation must be provided on the request of a law enforcement officer in the format specified under RCW 46.30.030. (b) A person who drives a motor vehicle that is required to be registered in another state that requires drivers and owners of vehicles in that state to maintain insurance or financial responsibility shall, when requested by a law enforcement officer, provide evidence of financial responsibility or insurance as is required by the laws of the state in which the vehicle is registered. (c) When asked to do so by a law enforcement officer, failure to display proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation as specified under RCW 46.30.030 creates a presumption that the person does not have motor vehicle insurance. (d) Failure to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance is a traffic infraction and is subject to penalties as set by the supreme court under RCW 46.63.110 or community restitution. Enforcement of the infraction of failing to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance may be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a motor vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of a separate traffic infraction or an equivalent local ordinance.

  amended

• RCW 46.63.110

  (a) A fee of $5 per infraction. Under no circumstances shall this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the emergency medical services and trauma care system trust account under RCW 70.168.040; (b) A fee of $10 per infraction. Under no circumstances shall this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the general fund; and (c) A fee of $10 per infraction. Under no circumstances shall this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the traumatic brain injury account established in RCW 74.31.060. (8)(a) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this section and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this section, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction other than of RCW 46.61.527 or 46.61.212 shall be assessed an additional penalty of $24. The court may not reduce, waive, or suspend the additional penalty unless the court finds the offender to be indigent. If a court authorized community restitution program for offenders is available in the jurisdiction, the court shall allow offenders to offset all or a part of the penalty due under this subsection (8) by participation in the court authorized community restitution program. (b) $12.50 of the additional penalty under (a) of this subsection shall be remitted to the state treasurer. The remaining revenue from the additional penalty must be remitted under chapters 2.08, 3.46, 3.50, 3.62, 10.82, and 35.20 RCW. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer must be deposited as follows: $8.50 in the state general fund and $4 in the driver licensing technology support account created under RCW 46.68.067. The moneys deposited into the driver licensing technology support account must be used to support initial and ongoing costs of the online motor vehicle insurance verification system under section 1 of this act and to support (9) If a legal proceeding, such as garnishment, has commenced to collect any delinquent amount owed by the person for any penalty imposed by the court under this section, the person may request a payment plan pursuant to RCW 46.63.190. (10) The monetary penalty for violating RCW 46.37.395 is: (a) $250 for the first violation; (b) $500 for the second violation; and (c) $750 for each violation thereafter. (11) The additional monetary penalty for a violation of RCW 46.20.500 is not subject to assessments or fees provided under this section. (12) The additional monetary fine for a violation of RCW 46.61.110, 46.61.145, 46.61.180, 46.61.185, 46.61.190, and 46.61.205 is not subject to assessments or fees provided under this section. (13) The additional monetary penalties for a violation of RCW 46.61.165 are not subject to assessments or fees provided under this section. (14) The monetary penalty for a violation of RCW 46.63.200 is not subject to assessments or fees provided under this section.

  amended

Action History

1. January 12, 2026

   First reading, referred to Transportation.

Sponsors

• (Lovick) · Primary

Subjects