Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee
SSB 5317
Brief Description: Concerning the removal of vehicles by a regional transit authority when obstructing the operation of high capacity transportation vehicles or jeopardizing public safety.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Nobles, Wilson, J., Frame, Liias, Lovick, Salda?a, Salomon, Shewmake, Wellman and Wilson, C.).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Allows Regional Transit Authority (RTA) representatives to direct an immediate tow of unauthorized vehicles on or within 10 feet of an RTA right-of-way.
Hearing Date: 3/9/23
Staff: Michael Hirsch (786-7195).
Background:

Unauthorized vehicles may be impounded by a registered tow truck operator (RTTO) at the direction of a law enforcement officer or other public official with jurisdiction if the vehicle is on public property, or at the direction of the property owner or an agent.  A vehicle is deemed unauthorized if it is left unattended in certain public or private locations.  A vehicle is immediately considered an unauthorized vehicle and subject to removal if it is:

  • determined by a police officer to be an accident or traffic hazard; 
  • in a publicly owned or controlled parking facility with proper posted signage;
  • on residential property;
  • on private, nonresidential property with proper posted signage; or
  • during the 2021-23 fiscal biennium within the right-of-way used by a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) for high capacity transportation where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to the operation of high capacity transportation vehicles or jeopardizes public safety.

 
An authorized RTA representative may direct an impound for an unauthorized vehicle in the right-of-way used by an RTA where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to the operation of high capacity transportation vehicles or jeopardizes public safety.
Summary of Bill:

A vehicle is considered an unauthorized vehicle and is subject to immediate removal by an RTTO if it is left unattended on or within 10 feet of either side of a right-of-way used by an RTA for high capacity transportation where the vehicle obstructs the operation of a high capacity transportation system vehicle or jeopardizes public safety.  An authorized representative of an RTA may request an impound for this type of unauthorized vehicle.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.