Honest Washington residents are experiencing a serious problem that has persisted just below the scrutiny it deserves.
This relates to our admittedly regressive tax system and the abuses that it engenders.
The taxes and fees that accrue to vehicle licensing are driving some people to schemes of tax evasion, which means the loss of revenue each year to state coffers and enrages honest drivers.
New Washington residents are allowed a 30 day-grace period per our statute RCW 46.16.030.
However, many people who live here are scamming the system using a variety of excuses.
Sequim in particular has many snow birds, people who live here for months to avoid extremes of weather both from Alaska winters and the Southwest summers.
Many of these drivers don’t understand that they are required to license here within the 30-day period.
Some of these people think because they’re here temporarily or own property in another state they’re excluded from our laws — not true.
Also, people who come here temporarily for work assignments aren’t exempt past 30 days.
Legitimate exemptions are given to full-time military members and college students, provided they’re paying out-of-state tuition.
I’m calling on our legislators to tighten the definition of resident to include people who receive mail here and to end the exemptions.
Local and state officers need to enforce our licensing laws more effectively.
Anders Tron-Haukebo,
Sequim