HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6356

As Passed House - Amended:

March 3, 2010

Title: An act relating to limiting access to law enforcement and emergency equipment and vehicles.

Brief Description: Limiting access to law enforcement and emergency equipment and vehicles.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Kilmer, Swecker, Rockefeller and Kastama).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/18/10, 2/24/10 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/3/10, 98-0.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Liias, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Rodne, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Campbell, Dickerson, Driscoll, Eddy, Ericksen, Finn, Flannigan, Herrera, Johnson, Klippert, Kristiansen, Moeller, Nealey, Rolfes, Sells, Shea, Simpson, Springer, Takko, Upthegrove, Williams and Wood.

Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).

Background:

Under current law, a public agency may not sell or donate emergency vehicle lighting or other emergency equipment to a person who may not lawfully operate the lighting or other equipment on the public streets and highways.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Prior to selling or giving an emergency vehicle to a person or entity that is not a public law enforcement agency, emergency agency, or private ambulance business, the public agency, business, entity, or person must remove the emergency equipment. The seller or donor must remove all emergency lighting as defined in rules by the Washington State Patrol, radios, spotlights, and any other emergency equipment from the vehicle that was not installed by the manufacturer and that visibly identifies the vehicle as an emergency vehicle from the exterior. The exception is the reflective strips and paint on fire trucks.

The sale or donation to a broker specializing in the resale of emergency vehicles or a charitable organization for use by a public law enforcement agency, emergency agency, or a private ambulance business is allowed with the emergency equipment intact. If the broker or charitable organization sells or donates the emergency vehicle to a person or entity that is not a public law enforcement or emergency agency, or private ambulance business, the broker or charitable organization is accountable and responsible for the removal of the equipment and designations not installed on the vehicle by the original vehicle manufacturer.

The equipment not sold or donated to a public law enforcement agency, emergency agency, or private ambulance business, must be retained or transferred to another public law enforcement or emergency agency, or a private ambulance business. If it is not, then the equipment must be dismantled with the individual parts being recycled or destroyed prior to being disposed of.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on original bill.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) There have been many incidents in the past where someone has been pulled over by a non-law enforcement person using a decommissioned emergency vehicle. People have been scared, hurt, and there have even been incidents of people being murdered. The use of emergency vehicles should only be used by emergency personnel. Removing the equipment, stripes, etc., that make the vehicle look like an emergency vehicle reduces the crime risk for people using these vehicles to commit a crime. This bill is about keeping people safe. Spotlights should also be required to be removed before an emergency vehicle is sold to a non-emergency person or agency.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Kilmer, prime sponsor; and Pat Jones.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.