RE: Use/Sales Tax in Washington State
I think you got the wrong clerk where you were trying to get Washington
plates.  As a life long resident of The Soviet of Washington my
understanding is that the Use tax is only going to be applied if you
purchased that vehicle some short time before moving into the State.  I
suggest that you either try a different DMV office (or local contract
licensing office) or better yet, call the DOL in Olympia for a
clarification.  You might also research the subject in the RCW (Revised
Code of Washington) which is online and has a good search engine.
Please post whatever the final results are.