(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a public agency, business, entity, or person shall not sell or give emergency vehicle lighting equipment or other equipment to a person who may not lawfully operate the lighting equipment or other equipment on the public streets and highways. Prior to selling or giving an emergency vehicle to a person or entity that is not a public law enforcement or emergency agency within or outside the state, public law enforcement or emergency agency in another country, or private ambulance business within or outside the state, the seller or donor must remove all emergency lighting as defined in rules by the Washington state patrol, radios, and any other emergency equipment from the vehicle, except for reflective stripes and paint on fire trucks, that was not originally installed by the original vehicle manufacturer and that visibly identifies the vehicle as an emergency vehicle from the exterior, including spotlights and confinement or rear seat safety cages. If the equipment is not retained or transferred to another public law enforcement or emergency agency within or outside the state, public law enforcement or emergency agency in another country, or private ambulance business within or outside the state, the equipment must be dismantled with the individual parts being recycled or destroyed prior to being disposed of. The agency must also remove all decals, state and local designated law enforcement colors, and stripes that were not installed by the original vehicle manufacturer.

(2) The sale or donation to a broker specializing in the resale of emergency vehicles, or a charitable organization, intending to deliver the vehicle or equipment to a public law enforcement or emergency agency within or outside the state, public law enforcement or emergency agency in another country, or private ambulance business within or outside the state, is allowed with the emergency equipment still installed and intact. If the broker or charitable organization sells or donates the emergency vehicle to a person or entity that is not a public law enforcement or emergency agency, or private ambulance business, the broker or charitable organization must remove the equipment and designations and is accountable and responsible for the removal of the equipment and designations not installed on the vehicle by the original vehicle manufacturer. Equipment not sold or donated to a public law enforcement or emergency agency, or a private ambulance business, must be removed and transferred, destroyed, or recycled in accordance with subsection (1) of this section.

Intent—2010 c 117: “It is the intent of the legislature to protect the public to ensure that only federal, state, and local law enforcement and emergency personnel, public or private, or other entities authorized by law to use emergency equipment have access to emergency equipment and vehicles.” [ 2010 c 117 § 1.]

Legislative finding—1990 c 94: “The legislature declares that public agencies should not engage in activity that leads or abets a person to engage in conduct that is not lawful. The legislature finds that some public agencies sell emergency vehicle lighting equipment at public auctions to persons who may not lawfully use the equipment. The legislature further finds that this practice misleads well-intentioned citizens and also benefits malevolent individuals.” [ 1990 c 94 § 1.]