Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGLO 1979 NO. 7 >

The State Department of Licensing is not presently authorized by law to refund either a lawfully paid motor vehicle license fee or the accompanying motor vehicle excise tax payment made by a vehicle owner prior to the beginning of the new registration year for which the payments are made simply because, prior to the beginning of the new registration year, the vehicle is destroyed or is removed from the state and licensed in another jurisdiction.

AGLO 1974 NO. 8 >

If a motor vehicle owner acquired personalized license plates under RCW 46.16.355 prior to the effective date of chapter 200, Laws of 1973, 1st Ex. Sess., such an owner is now required by the provisions of § 7 of this new act to pay an annual renewal fee of $20.00 to retain those previously issued license plates.

AGO 1993 NO. 11 >

Counties have the authority to define certain local offenses and to prescribe penalties for their commission including the imposition of specific costs.  Subject to certain limitations, a county may include as a cost a multiple booking fee imposed on persons convicted of such county offenses and sentenced to serve time in the county jail on intermittent days.  Such a multiple booking fee could offset the cost to the county of processing the individual in and out of jail.2.  A county does not have the authority to impose a multiple booking fee on individuals serving time in the county jail on intermittent days who have been convicted of violating a state statute.  The Legislature, rather than the county, specifies the punishment for state crimes including costs.

AGO 1953 NO. 13 >

Charges for preparation of copies of instructions to jury by court reporter are taxable as costs, and should be so taxed.

AGO 1974 NO. 13 >

A county, including a noncharter county, may pay the dues required to maintain optional membership in a professional association on behalf of an officer of the county in those cases where the main object of the expenditure is an anticipated direct benefit to the county such as a subscription to periodicals, services, or other valuable rights of commensurate value; however, a county may not pay those dues in a case where membership in the association is required by law as a prerequisite for holding the office in question.

AGO 1985 NO. 13 >

Schools are not authorized to charge fees for the administration of pre‑admission tests for early entrance of children into kindergarten or first grade classes.

AGLO 1978 NO. 14 >

Under the provisions of RCW 23A.40.075 and related statutes, the Secretary of State does not have the legal authority to exercise discretion and restore the privilege of doing business to a corporation which has failed to acquire an annual license fee for three years and which has failed to reinstate within the following two years.

AGO 1993 NO. 14 >

RCW 87.03.271 provides that the lien for a delinquent irrigation district assessment includes costs such as attorneys' fees.  When the lien is foreclosed pursuant to the procedure set forth in chapter 87.06 RCW, the irrigation district may recover costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

AGO 1976 NO. 14 >

Under the provisions of § 1, chapter 96, Laws of 1975-76, 2nd Ex. Sess., costs incurred at public expense for the payment of appointed counsel for the defendant in a criminal case as well as witness fees paid by the state for its own and defendant's witnesses under chapter 2.40 RCW may be recovered pursuant to court order from the defendant if convicted; however, costs incurred in paying the compensation of jurors under RCW 2.36.150 may not be so recovered and the recovery of statutory filing fees from a convicted criminal defendant remains governed, as before, by the provisions of RCW 36.18.020(15).

AGLO 1982 NO. 14 >

The Department of Social and Health Services, in its capacity as the state radiation control agency under chapter 70.98 RCW, is authorized by § 2, chapter 201, Laws of 1982 to establish and impose license fees in connection with licenses issued pursuant to RCW 70.98.080.