Motel license—Fee.
(1) There is a retailer's license to be designated as a motel license. The motel license may be issued to a motel regardless of whether it holds any other class of license under this title. No license may be issued to a motel offering rooms to its guests on an hourly basis. The license authorizes the licensee to:
(a) Sell, at retail, in locked honor bars, spirits in individual bottles not to exceed fifty milliliters, beer in individual cans or bottles not to exceed twelve ounces, and wine in individual bottles not to exceed one hundred eighty-seven milliliters, to registered guests of the motel for consumption in guest rooms.
(i) Each honor bar must also contain snack foods. No more than one-half of the guest rooms may have honor bars.
(ii) All spirits to be sold under the license must be purchased from a spirits retailer or a spirits distributor licensee of the board.
(iii) The licensee must require proof of age from the guest renting a guest room and requesting the use of an honor bar. The guest must also execute an affidavit verifying that no one under twenty-one years of age has access to the spirits, beer, and wine in the honor bar.
(b) Provide without additional charge, to overnight guests of the motel, spirits, beer, and wine by the individual serving for on-premises consumption at a specified regular date, time, and place as may be fixed by the board. Self-service by attendees is prohibited. All spirits, beer, and wine service must be done by an alcohol server as defined in RCW 66.20.300 and comply with RCW 66.20.310.
(2)(a) The annual fee for a motel license is five hundred dollars.
(b) The annual fee in (a) of this subsection is waived during the 12-month period beginning with the second calendar month after February 28, 2021, for:
(i) Licenses that expire during the 12-month waiver period under this subsection (2)(b); and
(ii) Licenses issued to persons previously licensed under this section at any time during the 12-month period prior to the 12-month waiver period under this subsection (2)(b).
(c) The waiver in (b) of this subsection does not apply to any licensee that:
(i) Had their license suspended by the board for health and safety violations of state COVID-19 guidelines; or
(ii) Received an order of immediate restraint or citation from the department of labor and industries for allowing an employee to perform work where business activity was prohibited in violation of an emergency proclamation of the governor under RCW 43.06.220.
(d) Upon request of the department of revenue, the board and the department of labor and industries must both provide a list of persons that they have determined to be ineligible for a fee waiver under (b) of this subsection for the reasons described in (c) of this subsection. Unless otherwise agreed, any list must be received by the department of revenue no later than 15 calendar days after the request is made.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "motel" means a transient accommodation licensed under chapter 70.62 RCW.
[ 2021 c 6 s 11; (2022 c 116 s 16 expired December 31, 2023); 2012 c 2 s 114 (Initiative Measure No. 1183, approved November 8, 2011); 1999 c 129 s 1; 1997 c 321 s 34; 1993 c 511 s 1.]
NOTES:
Expiration date—2022 c 116 ss 2-20: See note following RCW 66.24.420.
Effective date—Finding—Intent—2022 c 116: See notes following RCW 66.24.420.
Effective date—2021 c 6: See note following RCW 66.24.140.
Finding—Application—Rules—Effective date—Contingent effective date—2012 c 2 (Initiative Measure No. 1183): See notes following RCW 66.24.620.
Effective date—1997 c 321: See note following RCW 66.24.010.