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Ericksen bill would provide
tax breaks for trade-in of older cars
Rep. Doug Ericksen,
R-Ferndale, is proposing a bill in the upcoming legislative session that
would allow a person to trade in their car of 15 years and older in
return for a state sales tax exemption on the purchase of a new vehicle
that is Federal Tier 2 environmentally compliant.
“I want something that
will help clean up our air as quickly as possible,” said Ericksen. “It’s
time to give people incentive to drive cleaner cars – and this is a step
in the right direction.”
Ericksen’s bill would
require all old cars being traded in to be immediately destroyed. It
would also limit the total amount of money available for the program in
the first year to a set number and be distributed on a first-come,
first-served basis.
“Democrats seem receptive
to the idea, and I hope they take it and run with it. There’s no reason
this can’t be a bipartisan issue,” said Ericksen. “The bottom line is
getting old cars off the road and protecting our environment.”
The bill also has provisions that would prevent misuse of the incentive.
For example, a car being traded-in would have to be registered in
Washington the previous two years. This would prevent a person from
going to junkyards or bringing in a car from another state just to get a
state sales tax break on a new car.
“This isn’t about going after the gentleman who treasures his ’57 Chevy.
It’s about creating incentives for people to get rid of their old
Plymouth Dusters,” said Ericksen. “I understand people’s initial concern
in losing their trade-in value. But the tax exemption will exceed
trade-in value in many cases.”
The 2006 legislative session begins January 9 and is scheduled to run 60
days.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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