Legislator says cheats must stop ignoring Washington’s rules
CLARK COUNTY – “Whether we were born in the Evergreen State, moved here a long time ago, or came here more recently to put down new roots,” according to state Rep. Jim Moeller, “law-abiding Washington motorists keep a driver’s license and renew it when the time comes. We also make sure our motor vehicles are kept properly registered.
“In fact, however, thousands of vehicles in Clark County are licensed in Oregon instead of Washington,” said Moeller. “Their owners snub our state’s law so they can get out of paying our state’s sales-and-use tax.”
Upward of $1 million in revenue is lost every year.
The Vancouver Democrat (49th Legislative District) said today (Thursday, Dec. 3) that he’ll sponsor a vehicle-license-fraud bill in the upcoming 2010 session. Moeller’s measure will re-establish the Vehicle License Task Force that was eliminated in budget-cuts in the legislative session earlier this year.
He explained that his bill would send revenue from the fines for failure to license or register to the Vehicle License Fraud Account in the state treasurer’s office. If it’s passed and signed into law, the bill takes effect July 1, 2010.
Moeller noted that some people do register their vehicles in Washington, but continue to keep their out-of-state driver’s license “so they can purchase goods and services without paying our state’s sales tax.
“These folks are using our state=s services, but they’re not helping pay for them. We’re talking about our schools, our roads, and our public-safety services that are paid for by the taxes the rest of us pay.”
Current Washington law directs that when a person establishes residency here, he or she must register his or her vehicles – and reregister the vehicles every year – if the vehicles will be operated on public highways. The person must pay all required licensing fees and taxes. While the law is on the state’s books, its enforcement isn’t funded due to the aforementioned budget-cuts.
Failure to register a vehicle is counted as a traffic infraction with a fine of $529, further states the 2005 legislation that also set up a Vehicle License Task Force. The Clark County task force has received assistance from a good many southwestern Washington volunteers.
The cost of the task force is approximately $325,000 per year, said Moeller, “and so the program can actually more than pay for itself.”
To make sure that folks are not just registering their vehicles in Washington and then keeping their Oregon driver’s license to buy products and goods tax-free, owners of a vehicle must have a Washington driver’s license in order to license the vehicle.
“In fact, however, thousands of vehicles in Clark County are licensed in Oregon instead of Washington,” said Moeller. “Their owners snub our state’s law so they can get out of paying our state’s sales-and-use tax.”
Upward of $1 million in revenue is lost every year.
The Vancouver Democrat (49th Legislative District) said today (Thursday, Dec. 3) that he’ll sponsor a vehicle-license-fraud bill in the upcoming 2010 session. Moeller’s measure will re-establish the Vehicle License Task Force that was eliminated in budget-cuts in the legislative session earlier this year.
He explained that his bill would send revenue from the fines for failure to license or register to the Vehicle License Fraud Account in the state treasurer’s office. If it’s passed and signed into law, the bill takes effect July 1, 2010.
Moeller noted that some people do register their vehicles in Washington, but continue to keep their out-of-state driver’s license “so they can purchase goods and services without paying our state’s sales tax.
“These folks are using our state=s services, but they’re not helping pay for them. We’re talking about our schools, our roads, and our public-safety services that are paid for by the taxes the rest of us pay.”
Current Washington law directs that when a person establishes residency here, he or she must register his or her vehicles – and reregister the vehicles every year – if the vehicles will be operated on public highways. The person must pay all required licensing fees and taxes. While the law is on the state’s books, its enforcement isn’t funded due to the aforementioned budget-cuts.
Failure to register a vehicle is counted as a traffic infraction with a fine of $529, further states the 2005 legislation that also set up a Vehicle License Task Force. The Clark County task force has received assistance from a good many southwestern Washington volunteers.
The cost of the task force is approximately $325,000 per year, said Moeller, “and so the program can actually more than pay for itself.”
To make sure that folks are not just registering their vehicles in Washington and then keeping their Oregon driver’s license to buy products and goods tax-free, owners of a vehicle must have a Washington driver’s license in order to license the vehicle.
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