AIRCRAFT DEALERS

RCW 14.20
in effect

RCW 14.20.010 Definitions.

When used in this chapter and RCW 47.68.250 and 82.48.100 : (1) "Person" includes a firm, partnership, or corporation; (2) "Dealer" means a person engaged in the business of selling, exchanging, or acting as a broker of aircraft or who offers for sale two or more aircraft within a calendar year; (3) "Aircraft" means any weight-carrying device or structure for navigation of the air, designed to be supported by the air, but which is heavier than air and is mechanically driven; (4) "Secretary" means the secretary of the state department of transportation. When used in this chapter and RCW 47.68.250 and 82.48.100 : (1) "Person" includes a firm, partnership, or corporation; (2) "Dealer" means a person engaged in the business of selling, exchanging, or acting as a broker of aircraft or who offers for sale two or more aircraft within a calendar year; (3) "Aircraft" means any weight-carrying device or structure for navigation of the air, designed to be supported by the air, but which is heavier than air and is mechanically driven; (4) "Secretary" means the secretary of the state department of transportation.

RCW 14.20.020 Aircraft dealer licensure — Penalty.

(1) It is unlawful for a person to act as an aircraft dealer without a currently valid aircraft dealer's license issued under this chapter. (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person acting as an aircraft dealer without a currently issued aircraft dealer's license is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by either a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or both. (b) A person convicted on a second or subsequent conviction within a five-year period is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall be punished by either a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for up to three hundred sixty-four days, or both. (3) In addition to, or in lieu of, the penalties provided in this section, or as a condition to the suspension of a sentence that may be imposed under this section, the court in its discretion may prohibit the violator from acting as an aircraft dealer within the state for such a period as it may determine but not to exceed one year. Violation of the duly imposed prohibition of the court may be treated as a separate offense under this section or as contempt of court. (4) Any person applying for an aircraft dealer's license shall do so at the office of the secretary on a form provided for that purpose by the secretary. (1) It is unlawful for a person to act as an aircraft dealer without a currently valid aircraft dealer's license issued under this chapter. (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person acting as an aircraft dealer without a currently issued aircraft dealer's license is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by either a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or both. (b) A person convicted on a second or subsequent conviction within a five-year period is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall be punished by either a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for up to three hundred sixty-four days, or both. (3) In addition to, or in lieu of, the penalties provided in this section, or as a condition to the suspension of a sentence that may be imposed under this section, the court in its discretion may prohibit the violator from acting as an aircraft dealer within the state for such a period as it may determine but not to exceed one year. Violation of the duly imposed prohibition of the court may be treated as a separate offense under this section or as contempt of court. (4) Any person applying for an aircraft dealer's license shall do so at the office of the secretary on a form provided for that purpose by the secretary.

RCW 14.20.030 Application for license — Contents.

Applications for an aircraft dealer's license shall contain: (1) The name under which the dealer's business is conducted and the address of the dealer's established place of business; (2) The residence address of each owner, director, or principal officer of the aircraft dealer, and, if a foreign corporation, the state of incorporation and names of its resident officers or managers; (3) The make or makes of aircraft for which franchised, if any; (4) Whether or not used aircraft are dealt in; (5) A certificate that the applicant is a dealer having an established place of business at the address shown on the application, which place of business is open during regular business hours to inspection by the secretary or his or her representatives; and (6) Whether or not the applicant has ever been denied an aircraft dealer's license or has had one which has been denied, suspended, or revoked. Applications for an aircraft dealer's license shall contain: (1) The name under which the dealer's business is conducted and the address of the dealer's established place of business; (2) The residence address of each owner, director, or principal officer of the aircraft dealer, and, if a foreign corporation, the state of incorporation and names of its resident officers or managers; (3) The make or makes of aircraft for which franchised, if any; (4) Whether or not used aircraft are dealt in; (5) A certificate that the applicant is a dealer having an established place of business at the address shown on the application, which place of business is open during regular business hours to inspection by the secretary or his or her representatives; and (6) Whether or not the applicant has ever been denied an aircraft dealer's license or has had one which has been denied, suspended, or revoked.

RCW 14.20.040 Certificates.

During such time as aircraft are held by a dealer for sale, exchange, delivery, test, or demonstration purposes solely as stock in trade of the dealer's business, an aircraft dealer's certificate may be used on the aircraft in lieu of a registration certificate or fee and in lieu of payment of excise tax. The secretary shall issue one aircraft dealer's certificate with each aircraft dealer's license. Additional aircraft dealer's certificates shall be issued to an aircraft dealer upon request and the payment of the fee provided in RCW 14.20.050 . Nothing contained in this section, however, may be construed to prevent transferability among dealer aircraft of any aircraft dealer's certificate, and the certificate need be displayed on dealer aircraft only while in actual use or flight. Every aircraft dealer's certificate issued expires on December 31st, and may be renewed upon renewal of an aircraft dealer's license. During such time as aircraft are held by a dealer for sale, exchange, delivery, test, or demonstration purposes solely as stock in trade of the dealer's business, an aircraft dealer's certificate may be used on the aircraft in lieu of a registration certificate or fee and in lieu of payment of excise tax. The secretary shall issue one aircraft dealer's certificate with each aircraft dealer's license. Additional aircraft dealer's certificates shall be issued to an aircraft dealer upon request and the payment of the fee provided in RCW 14.20.050 . Nothing contained in this section, however, may be construed to prevent transferability among dealer aircraft of any aircraft dealer's certificate, and the certificate need be displayed on dealer aircraft only while in actual use or flight. Every aircraft dealer's certificate issued expires on December 31st, and may be renewed upon renewal of an aircraft dealer's license.

RCW 14.20.050 License and certificate fees.

The fee for original aircraft dealer's license for each calendar year or fraction thereof is seventy-five dollars, which includes one aircraft dealer's certificate and which must be renewed annually for a fee of seventy-five dollars. Additional aircraft dealer certificates may be obtained for ten dollars each per year. If any dealer fails or neglects to apply for renewal of his or her license prior to February 1st in each year, his or her license shall be declared canceled by the secretary, in which case any such dealer desiring a license shall reapply and pay a fee of seventy-five dollars. The fee for original aircraft dealer's license for each calendar year or fraction thereof is seventy-five dollars, which includes one aircraft dealer's certificate and which must be renewed annually for a fee of seventy-five dollars. Additional aircraft dealer certificates may be obtained for ten dollars each per year. If any dealer fails or neglects to apply for renewal of his or her license prior to February 1st in each year, his or her license shall be declared canceled by the secretary, in which case any such dealer desiring a license shall reapply and pay a fee of seventy-five dollars.

RCW 14.20.060 Payment of fees — Fund — Possession and display of licenses and certificates.

The fees set forth in RCW 14.20.050 shall be paid to the secretary. The fee for any calendar year may be paid on and after the first day of December of the preceding year. The secretary shall give appropriate receipts therefor. The fees collected under this chapter shall be credited to the aeronautics account. The secretary may prescribe requirements for the possession and exhibition of aircraft dealer's licenses and aircraft dealer's certificates. The fees set forth in RCW 14.20.050 shall be paid to the secretary. The fee for any calendar year may be paid on and after the first day of December of the preceding year. The secretary shall give appropriate receipts therefor. The fees collected under this chapter shall be credited to the aeronautics account. The secretary may prescribe requirements for the possession and exhibition of aircraft dealer's licenses and aircraft dealer's certificates.

RCW 14.20.070 Surety bonds.

Before issuing an aircraft dealer license, the secretary shall require the applicant to file with the secretary a surety bond in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars running to the state, and executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the state. The bond shall be approved by the attorney general as to form and conditioned that the dealer shall conduct his or her business in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, RCW 47.68.250 , and 82.48.100 . Any person who has suffered any loss or damage by reason of any act by a dealer which constitutes ground for refusal, suspension, or revocation of license under RCW 14.20.090 has a right of action against the aircraft dealer and the surety upon the bond. Successive recoveries against the bond shall be permitted, but the aggregate liability of the surety to all persons shall in no event exceed the amount of the bond. Before issuing an aircraft dealer license, the secretary shall require the applicant to file with the secretary a surety bond in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars running to the state, and executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the state. The bond shall be approved by the attorney general as to form and conditioned that the dealer shall conduct his or her business in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, RCW 47.68.250 , and 82.48.100 . Any person who has suffered any loss or damage by reason of any act by a dealer which constitutes ground for refusal, suspension, or revocation of license under RCW 14.20.090 has a right of action against the aircraft dealer and the surety upon the bond. Successive recoveries against the bond shall be permitted, but the aggregate liability of the surety to all persons shall in no event exceed the amount of the bond.

RCW 14.20.080 Branches and subagencies.

Every dealer maintaining a branch or subagency in another city or town in this state shall be required to have a separate aircraft dealer's license for such branch or subagency, in the same manner as though each constituted a separate and distinct dealer. Every dealer maintaining a branch or subagency in another city or town in this state shall be required to have a separate aircraft dealer's license for such branch or subagency, in the same manner as though each constituted a separate and distinct dealer.

RCW 14.20.090 Denial, suspension, revocation of license — Grounds.

The secretary shall refuse to issue an aircraft dealer's license or shall suspend or revoke an aircraft dealer's license whenever he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that the dealer has: (1) Forged or altered any federal certificate, permit, rating, or license relating to ownership and airworthiness of an aircraft; (2) Sold or disposed of an aircraft which he or she knows or has reason to know has been stolen or appropriated without the consent of the owner; (3) Willfully misrepresented any material fact in the application for an aircraft dealer's license, aircraft dealer's certificate, or registration certificate; (4) Willfully withheld or caused to be withheld from a purchaser of an aircraft any document referred to in subsection (1) of this section if applicable, or an affidavit to the effect that there are no liens, mortgages, or encumbrances of any type on the aircraft other than noted thereon, if the document or affidavit has been requested by the purchaser; (5) Suffered or permitted the cancellation of his or her bond or the exhaustion of the penalty thereof; (6) Used an aircraft dealer's certificate for any purpose other than those permitted by this chapter or RCW 47.68.250 and 82.48.100 ; (7) Except as provided in RCW 9.97.020 , been adjudged guilty of a crime that directly relates to the business of an aircraft dealer and the time elapsed since the conviction is less than ten years, or had a judgment entered against the dealer within the preceding five years in any civil action involving fraud, misrepresentation, or conversion. For the purpose of this section, the term "adjudged guilty" means, in addition to a final conviction in either a state or municipal court, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court, the payment of a fine, a plea of guilty, or a finding of guilt regardless of whether the imposition of the sentence is deferred or the penalty is suspended. The secretary shall refuse to issue an aircraft dealer's license or shall suspend or revoke an aircraft dealer's license whenever he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that the dealer has: (1) Forged or altered any federal certificate, permit, rating, or license relating to ownership and airworthiness of an aircraft; (2) Sold or disposed of an aircraft which he or she knows or has reason to know has been stolen or appropriated without the consent of the owner; (3) Willfully misrepresented any material fact in the application for an aircraft dealer's license, aircraft dealer's certificate, or registration certificate; (4) Willfully withheld or caused to be withheld from a purchaser of an aircraft any document referred to in subsection (1) of this section if applicable, or an affidavit to the effect that there are no liens, mortgages, or encumbrances of any type on the aircraft other than noted thereon, if the document or affidavit has been requested by the purchaser; (5) Suffered or permitted the cancellation of his or her bond or the exhaustion of the penalty thereof; (6) Used an aircraft dealer's certificate for any purpose other than those permitted by this chapter or RCW 47.68.250 and 82.48.100 ; (7) Except as provided in RCW 9.97.020 , been adjudged guilty of a crime that directly relates to the business of an aircraft dealer and the time elapsed since the conviction is less than ten years, or had a judgment entered against the dealer within the preceding five years in any civil action involving fraud, misrepresentation, or conversion. For the purpose of this section, the term "adjudged guilty" means, in addition to a final conviction in either a state or municipal court, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court, the payment of a fine, a plea of guilty, or a finding of guilt regardless of whether the imposition of the sentence is deferred or the penalty is suspended.

RCW 14.20.100 Appeal from secretary's order.

If the secretary issues an order that any person is not entitled to an aircraft dealer's license or that an existing license should be suspended or revoked, he or she shall forthwith notify the applicant or dealer in writing. The applicant has thirty days from the date of the secretary's order to appeal therefrom to the superior court of Thurston county, which he or she may do by filing a notice of the appeal with the clerk of the superior court and at the same time filing a copy of the notice with the secretary. If the secretary issues an order that any person is not entitled to an aircraft dealer's license or that an existing license should be suspended or revoked, he or she shall forthwith notify the applicant or dealer in writing. The applicant has thirty days from the date of the secretary's order to appeal therefrom to the superior court of Thurston county, which he or she may do by filing a notice of the appeal with the clerk of the superior court and at the same time filing a copy of the notice with the secretary.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=14.20&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026

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