46.63.073 - Rental vehicles. - Washington Statutes

Rental vehicles.

(1) In the event a traffic infraction is based on a vehicle's identification, and the registered owner of the vehicle is a rental car business, the law enforcement agency shall, before a notice of infraction may be issued, provide a written notice to the rental car business that a notice of infraction may be issued to the rental car business if the rental car business does not, within thirty days of receiving the written notice, provide to the issuing agency by return mail:

     (a) A statement under oath stating the name and known mailing address of the individual driving or renting the vehicle when the infraction occurred; or

     (b) A statement under oath that the business is unable to determine who was driving or renting the vehicle at the time the infraction occurred because the vehicle was stolen at the time of the infraction. A statement provided under this subsection must be accompanied by a copy of a filed police report regarding the vehicle theft.

     Timely mailing of this statement to the issuing law enforcement agency relieves a rental car business of any liability under this chapter for the notice of infraction. In lieu of identifying the vehicle operator, the rental car business may pay the applicable penalty. For the purpose of this subsection, a "traffic infraction based on a vehicle's identification" includes, but is not limited to, parking infractions, high occupancy toll lane violations, and violations recorded by automated traffic safety cameras.

     (2) In the event a parking infraction is issued by a private parking facility and is based on a vehicle's identification, and the registered owner of the vehicle is a rental car business, the parking facility shall, before a notice of infraction may be issued, provide a written notice to the rental car business that a notice of infraction may be issued to the rental car business if the rental car business does not, within thirty days of receiving the written notice, provide to the parking facility by return mail:

     (a) A statement under oath stating the name and known mailing address of the individual driving or renting the vehicle when the infraction occurred; or

     (b) A statement under oath that the business is unable to determine who was driving or renting the vehicle at the time the infraction occurred because the vehicle was stolen at the time of the infraction. A statement provided under this subsection must be accompanied by a copy of a filed police report regarding the vehicle theft.

     Timely mailing of this statement to the parking facility relieves a rental car business of any liability under this chapter for the notice of infraction. In lieu of identifying the vehicle operator, the rental car business may pay the applicable penalty. For the purpose of this subsection, a "parking infraction based on a vehicle's identification" is limited to parking infractions occurring on a private parking facility's premises.

[2007 c 372 § 1; 2005 c 331 § 2.]