S-0984.3          _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 5562

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators Erwin, Vognild, Thorsness, Nelson and Johnson.

Read first time February 7, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.Requiring at least two passengers in private vehicles using reserved lanes.

     AN ACT Relating to the use of reserved lanes on multilane highways; amending RCW 46.61.165; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that high occupancy vehicle lanes are currently underutilized.  The legislature also finds that carpooling will be better encouraged by permitting motor vehicles with as few as two occupants to travel in any high occupancy vehicle lane.

     Sec. 2.  RCW 46.61.165 and 1984 c 7 s 65 are each amended to read as follows:

     The state department of transportation and the local authorities are authorized to reserve all or any portion of any highway under their respective jurisdictions, including any designated lane or ramp, for the exclusive or preferential use of public transportation vehicles or private motor vehicles carrying no fewer than ((a specified number of  passengers)) two occupants when such limitation will increase the efficient utilization of the highway or will aid in the conservation of energy resources.  Regulations authorizing such exclusive or preferential use of a highway facility may be declared to be effective at all times or at specified times of day or on specified days but in no event shall such regulations require that designated lanes be reserved to vehicles with occupants in excess of two.