The bill amends RCW 46.16A.030 to enhance the enforcement of vehicle registration laws in Washington State. It establishes that operating a vehicle without a current registration is a traffic infraction, with a fixed fine of $529, which must be deposited into the vehicle licensing fraud account. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that makes it a traffic infraction for registered owners to fail to renew an expired vehicle registration if the vehicle is parked on public rights-of-way, publicly owned property, or in certain privately owned parking facilities, provided the facility owner consents to enforcement. The penalties for this infraction vary based on the duration of the expiration, with fines set at $145 for registrations expired for two months or less and $248 for those expired for more than two months.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the consequences for residents who register their vehicles in other states to evade taxes or fees, classifying this as a gross misdemeanor. Penalties for first and subsequent offenses include jail time, fines of $529 and $1,000 for first offenses, and $5,000 for subsequent offenses, all of which must be deposited into the vehicle licensing fraud account. The bill also allows for the impounding of vehicles with expired registrations exceeding 45 days parked on public streets. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen compliance with vehicle registration requirements and ensure that penalties are effectively enforced.