(1) Before accepting an application for a vehicle registration for a for hire vehicle or auto stage with a seating capacity of six or less, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require the applicant to pay a fifteen dollar seating capacity fee. The seating capacity fee must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 46.68.070.
(2) The for hire vehicle and auto stage seating capacity fee imposed in subsection (1) of this section does not apply to taxicabs.