Vehicle wreckers must comply with all rules set forth in this
chapter and the requirements of
chapter
46.80 RCW relative to the
handling of vehicle parts or vehicles to be dismantled.
(1) Enclosure. The activities of a vehicle
wrecker must be conducted entirely within the established place of business. A
physical barrier must designate the boundary of the wrecking yard. Where
necessary to obscure public view of the premises, it must be enclosed by a
sight-obscuring wall or fence at least eight feet high.
(a) Where required, such sight-obscuring wall
or fence must be painted or stained in a neutral shade to blend with the
surrounding premises. If the fence is made of chain link, it must have
sufficient slats or other construction to obscure public view of the
premises.
(b) A living hedge of
equal height and sufficient density to prevent view of the premises may be
substituted for the wall or fence.
(c) All enclosures and barriers must be kept
in good repair.
(d) Reasonable
consideration will be given to the topography of the land by enforcement
personnel when inspecting premises for such fence, enclosure or
barrier.
(e) Exceptions to this
section must be granted in writing by the department.
(2) Additional places of business. Each
licensed vehicle wrecker may maintain one or more additional places of business
within the same county, under the same license. The vehicle wrecker may
maintain as many storage yards or sales outlets as needed so long as each is
registered with the department. Each wrecking or storage yard must comply with
local zoning regulations,
chapter
46.80 RCW, and the
requirements of this chapter. Duplicate vehicle wrecker's licenses will be
issued to be posted at each additional place of business.
(3) Change of address. The department must be
notified within ten days of any change of address of any business location or
of the addition of any such location.
(4) Display of license certificate. The
license certificate issued by the department to a licensed wrecker must be
displayed conspicuously at each business address and must be available for
periodic inspection by law enforcement officers and authorized representatives
of the department.
(5)
Identification of licensee's vehicles. All vehicles equipped for lifting or
transporting vehicles or vehicle parts which are operated on the highways of
this state must display the licensee's name, the city in which the licensee's
established place of business is located, and the current business telephone
number of the licensee. Such information must be painted on or permanently
affixed to both sides of the vehicle. Each letter and numeral shall be made
with at least a half-inch in solid width and must be at least three inches
high. See example.
(6)
License plates from vehicles entered into the wrecking yard must be removed
within twenty-four hours. Plates on vehicles in the segregated area may be left
on until the vehicle is entered into the wrecking yard. The wrecker must
destroy such plates prior to submitting the monthly report for the month the
vehicle was entered into the wrecking yard.
(7) Major component parts. A catalytic
converter is a major component part. Under
RCW
46.80.010(5) the term
"engines, short blocks, transmissions and drive axles" will not include cores
or parts which are limited to value as scrap metal or for remanufacturing only.
The term "seat" will mean bucket seat. The term "drive axle" means a
differential assembly.
(8) Vehicles
in custody and awaiting approved ownership documents, as provided under WAC
308-63-080, must be placed in a
segregated storage area within the wrecking yard which must be designated by a
physical barrier. Vehicles may remain in this area after ownership documents
have arrived and the vehicle has been properly entered into the wrecking yard
inventory. There will be no dismantling or parts removal in this area. The
physical barrier may be portable, made of substantial posts and connected by a
chain, cable, or of other equally strong construction.
This area can be used for storage of dealer cars or equipment
if the vehicle wrecker is both a vehicle wrecker and a dealer however, there
will be no storage of vehicle parts.