Vancouver lawmaker’s bill would take scissors to red tape
OLYMPIA – A Clark County lawmaker this year is again advancing legislation aimed at trimming red tape for people who want to get a quick title for their vehicles.
Sponsored by state Rep. Jim Moeller, House Bill 1046 establishes the definition of a quick vehicle title as a certificate of ownership printed at the time of application in a county auditor’s office.
Moeller said that “it can be so much more convenient for citizens around our state to have this service locally. This would mean additional local dollars for counties that decide to provide the service in addition to the convenience for citizens who need a quick title for a vehicle or vessel.
“Right now,” Moeller explained, “Clark County is one of few Washington counties offering the quick-title service. My legislation would allow our county auditor to collect a small fee of $25 for moving to the front of the line and to offset the cost of providing a quick title.”
Washington citizens in many cases currently must travel a long way to get a quick title immediately.
Quick titles take additional time to process because of the verification and review process. People who don’t go for a quick title have to wait several weeks for the title to be processed through the Department of Licensing bureaucracy in Olympia.
Moeller is a member of the House Transportation Committee where the legislation has already received a public hearing. His similar legislation passed the House last year, 65-33, but didn’t get out of the Senate.