Washington State Senate considers studded winter tyres fee

ERJ staff report (TB)

Olympia, Washington State -- The Committee on Transportation of the Washington State Senate will hold a hearing Jan. 24 on Senate Bill 6032, which would place a $5 fee on every studded winter tyre sold in the state.

“The legislature finds that substantial pavement damage is caused by studded tyre use,” Section 1 of the bill states. “Therefore, to offset pavement maintenance costs, a fee should be imposed on each new tyre sold that contains studs.”

The bill would require tyre dealers to collect the money for the studded tyre fees and remit them to the Washington Department of Revenue, which then would deposit the fees in the state's motor vehicle account for road maintenance.

Dick Nordness, executive director of the Northwest Tire Dealers Association, told Tire Business he plans to testify against the bill at the committee hearing.

“One of the things we don't like getting involved in is becoming a tax collector for the state, and that's what we'd be doing if this bill passes,” Nordness said of the state's independent tyre dealers.

“It's not something we would scream and holler at, however. We don't think there should be a fee on studded tyres, but $5 per tyre won't stop consumers from buying studded tyres. It's just a matter of making extra work for us.”

From Tire Business  (A Crain publication)