The commission has a number of options available to enforce its statutes, rules, orders and tariff requirements, as follows:
- (1) RCW 81.04.110 allows the commission to file a complaint and hold a hearing.
- (2) RCW 81.04.260 allows the commission to file in court for an immediate injunction for violations of law, commission rule, order, direction or requirement of the commission.
- (3) RCW 81.04.380 allows penalties against public service companies of up to one thousand dollars for each violation for each day the violation occurs or continues to occur.
- (4) RCW 81.04.387 allows penalties against corporations, other than public service companies, of up to one thousand dollars for each offense.
- (5) RCW 81.04.390 provides that violations may be treated as misdemeanors.
- (6) RCW 81.04.405 allows penalties of one hundred dollars for each violation for each day the violation occurs or continues to occur. These penalties are issued through a penalty assessment with a fifteen-day response period.
- (7) RCW 81.04.510 allows the commission to issue cease and desist orders against a carrier operating without a permit.
- (8) Section 4(5), chapter 94, Laws of 2009 (HB 1536), allows a penalty of up to ten thousand dollars per violation for any person who engages in business as a household goods carrier in violation of a cease and desist order.
- (9) RCW 81.80.280 allows the commission to cancel, suspend, alter, or amend a permit for violations of federal or state law, or commission rule.
- (10) Section 4(4), chapter 94, Laws of 2009 (HB 1536), allows a penalty of up to five thousand dollars to any carrier operating without a permit. If the basis for the violation is advertising, each advertisement reproduced, broadcast, or displayed via a particular medium constitutes a separate violation.
- (11) RCW 81.80.355 provides that advertising without a permit may be treated as a misdemeanor.
- (12) RCW 81.80.357 allows a penalty of five hundred dollars for each violation when a carrier does not include its permit number, physical address, and telephone number in its advertisements.
- (13) WAC 480-120-172 allows a telecommunications company to disconnect a customer's service if that service is used for illegal purposes, such as operating without a permit issued by the commission.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 34.05.353, and 2009 c 94. WSR 09-24-104 (Docket TV-091038, General Order R-556), § 480-15-145, filed 12/2/09, effective 1/2/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.250, 81.28.040, 81.80.120, 81.80.130 and 81.80.290. WSR 08-02-049 (Docket TV-070466, General Order R-547), § 480-15-145, filed 12/27/07, effective 1/27/08.]