Military surplus vehicles

AN ACT Relating to authorizing military surplus vehicles to 1
operate on public highways; amending RCW 46.04.123, 46.04.126, 2
46.18.220, and 46.37.010; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; 3
adding a new section to chapter 46.12 RCW; creating a new section; 4
prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Washington is home to hundreds of 7
thousands of men and women who protect us through their service in 8
the United States armed forces. There is a strong commitment, 9
respect, and interest for the armed forces that is prevalent in 10
celebrations, parades, community events, fundraisers, and exhibitions 11
throughout Washington communities. Military vehicles are iconic, 12
patriotic, and stir a sense of nostalgic and civic pride. Therefore, 13
the legislature recognizes there is a public interest in allowing 14
vehicles that have been an active part of military operations to be 15
able to operate on the public highways to be involved in parades, 16
veterans' events, car club activities, community events, exhibitions, 17
and other similarly limited circumstances. Military-issued vehicles, 18
such as the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, include 19
operational safety equipment to protect drivers and passengers of the 20
vehicle, yet do not meet all of the federal vehicle requirements. 21
H-0114.1
HOUSE BILL 1366
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Orcutt, Klicker, Couture, Dufault, and Waters
Read first time 01/17/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
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They are built to drive on United States highways and beyond in much 1
less pristine conditions. Therefore, this act authorizes travel for 2
military surplus vehicles in good operating order to traverse 3
Washington's public highways in limited circumstances.4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
"Military surplus vehicle" means a vehicle that is not operated 7
using continuous tracks, was originally manufactured and sold 8
directly to the armed forces of the United States, was originally 9
manufactured under the federally mandated requirements set forth in 10
49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.7, and is no longer owned by the United States 11
armed forces. 12
Sec. 3. RCW 46.04.123 and 2014 c 72 s 2 are each amended to read 13
as follows: 14
"Collectible vehicle" means a vehicle that complies with the 15
following: 16
(1)(a) Is of unique or rare design, of limited production, and an 17
object of curiosity; 18
(((2))) (b) Is maintained primarily for use in car club 19
activities, exhibitions, parades, or other functions of public 20
interest or for a private collection, and is used only infrequently 21
for other purposes; and 22
(((3))) (c) Has collectible vehicle or classic automobile 23
insurance coverage that restricts the collectible vehicle mileage or 24
use, or both, and requires the owner to have another vehicle for 25
personal use; or26
(2) Is a military surplus vehicle. 27
Sec. 4. RCW 46.04.126 and 2015 c 200 s 4 are each amended to 28
read as follows: 29
"Collector vehicle" means any motor vehicle or travel trailer 30
that is at least ((thirty)) 30 years old or a military surplus 31
vehicle. 32
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 46.12 33
RCW to read as follows: 34
(1) When applying for a certificate of title for a military 35
surplus vehicle, the vehicle owner must: 36
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(a) Submit a certification that the military surplus vehicle:1
(i) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, 2
exhibitions, veterans' events, club activities, parades, tours, and 3
similar uses; 4
(ii) Will only be driven when covered by a motor vehicle 5
liability insurance policy with liability limits of at least the 6
amounts required in RCW 46.29.090; and 7
(iii) Will not be used for general daily transportation; and8
(b) Provide a certificate of safety inspection on a form created 9
by the department to be completed by a licensed motor vehicle repair 10
shop in the state of Washington that certifies that the military 11
surplus vehicle has the original safety equipment on the vehicle at 12
the time of its manufacture in good operating condition or has been 13
replaced by equal or more effective safety equipment in good working 14
order, specifically headlamps, tail lamps, turn signals, mirrors, a 15
horn, seat belts, and brakes. 16
(2) A person who makes a false statement regarding the inspection 17
of equipment required under this section is guilty of false swearing. 18
False swearing is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 9A.72.040.19
Sec. 6. RCW 46.18.220 and 2024 c 131 s 1 are each amended to 20
read as follows: 21
(1) A registered owner may apply to the department, county 22
auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a 23
collector vehicle license plate for a motor vehicle or travel trailer 24
that is at least 30 years old or a military surplus vehicle . The 25
motor vehicle must be operated primarily as a collector vehicle and 26
be in good running order. The applicant for the collector vehicle 27
license plate shall: 28
(a) Purchase a registration for the motor vehicle or travel 29
trailer as required under chapters 46.16A and 46.17 RCW; and30
(b) Pay the special license plate fee established under RCW 31
46.17.220(5), in addition to any other fees or taxes required by law.32
(2) A person applying for a collector vehicle license plate may:33
(a) Receive a collector vehicle license plate assigned by the 34
department; or 35
(b) Provide an actual Washington state issued license plate 36
designated for general use in the year of the vehicle's manufacture.37
(3) Collector vehicle license plates: 38
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(a) Are valid for the life of the motor vehicle or travel 1
trailer; 2
(b) Are not required to be renewed; and 3
(c) Must be displayed on the rear of the motor vehicle or travel 4
trailer. 5
(4) A collector vehicle registered under this section may only be 6
used for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, 7
parades, ((and)) veterans' events, or occasional pleasure driving.8
(5) ((Collector)) Except for military surplus vehicles, collector 9
vehicle license plates under subsection (2)(b) of this section may be 10
transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle described in 11
subsection (1) of this section upon application to the department, 12
county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director.13
(6) Any person who knowingly provides a false or facsimile 14
license plate under subsection (2)(b) of this section is subject to a 15
traffic infraction and fine in an amount equal to the monetary 16
penalty for a violation of RCW 46.16A.200(7)(b). Additionally, the 17
person must pay for the cost of a collector vehicle license plate as 18
listed in RCW 46.17.220(5), unless already paid. 19
(7) A collector vehicle that is a motor vehicle may tow a trailer 20
if the trailer is being used for participation in club activities, 21
exhibitions, tours, and parades. 22
Sec. 7. RCW 46.37.010 and 2011 c 171 s 79 are each amended to 23
read as follows: 24
(1) It is a traffic infraction for any person to drive or move, 25
or for a vehicle owner to cause or knowingly permit to be driven or 26
moved, on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that:27
(a) Is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person;28
(b) Is not at all times equipped with such lamps and other 29
equipment in proper working condition and adjustment as required by 30
this chapter or by rules issued by the Washington state patrol;31
(c) Contains any parts in violation of this chapter or rules 32
issued by the Washington state patrol. 33
(2) It is a traffic infraction for any person to do any act 34
forbidden or fail to perform any act required under this chapter or 35
rules issued by the Washington state patrol. 36
(3) Nothing contained in this chapter or the state patrol's 37
regulations shall be construed to prohibit the use of additional 38
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parts and accessories on any vehicle not inconsistent with the 1
provisions of this chapter or the state patrol's regulations.2
(4) The provisions of the chapter and the state patrol's 3
regulations with respect to equipment on vehicles shall not apply to 4
implements of husbandry, road machinery, road rollers, or farm 5
tractors except as herein made applicable. 6
(5) No owner or operator of a farm tractor, self-propelled unit 7
of farm equipment, or implement of husbandry shall be guilty of a 8
crime or subject to penalty for violation of RCW 46.37.160 as now or 9
hereafter amended unless such violation occurs on a public highway.10
(6) It is a traffic infraction for any person to sell or offer 11
for sale vehicle equipment which is required to be approved by the 12
state patrol as prescribed in RCW 46.37.005 unless it has been 13
approved by the state patrol. 14
(7) The provisions of this chapter with respect to equipment 15
required on vehicles shall not apply to: 16
(a) Motorcycles or motor-driven cycles except as herein made 17
applicable; 18
(b) Golf carts, as defined in RCW 46.04.1945, operating within a 19
designated golf cart zone as described in RCW 46.08.175, except as 20
provided in RCW 46.08.175(8); or21
(c) Military surplus vehicles as defined in section 2 of this act 22
that have a collector vehicle license plate. 23
(8) This chapter does not apply to off-road vehicles used on 24
nonhighway roads or used on streets, roads, or highways as authorized 25
under RCW 46.09.360. 26
(9) This chapter does not apply to vehicles used by the state 27
parks and recreation commission exclusively for park maintenance and 28
operations upon public highways within state parks.29
(10) Notices of traffic infraction issued to commercial drivers 30
under the provisions of this chapter with respect to equipment 31
required on commercial motor vehicles shall not be considered for 32
driver improvement purposes under chapter 46.20 RCW.33
(11) Whenever a traffic infraction is chargeable to the owner or 34
lessee of a vehicle under subsection (1) of this section, the driver 35
shall not be arrested or issued a notice of traffic infraction unless 36
the vehicle is registered in a jurisdiction other than Washington 37
state, or unless the infraction is for an offense that is clearly 38
within the responsibility of the driver. 39
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(12) Whenever the owner or lessee is issued a notice of traffic 1
infraction under this section the court may, on the request of the 2
owner or lessee, take appropriate steps to make the driver of the 3
vehicle, or any other person who directs the loading, maintenance, or 4
operation of the vehicle, a codefendant. If the codefendant is held 5
solely responsible and is found to have committed the traffic 6
infraction, the court may dismiss the notice against the owner or 7
lessee. 8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act takes effect January 1, 2026.9
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