S-1723               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3795

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Granlund and Peterson

Read first time 2/6/85 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to splash and spray suppression devices on motor vehicles; amending RCW 46.37.500; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The Washington state department of transportation shall undertake a review of the need for the state of Washington to mandate the use of improved splash and spray suppression devices for heavy commercial vehicle combinations.  The review shall take into account the implementation of federal splash and spray standards for heavy vehicles, the development of such standards in other states, and the development of equipment to reduce vehicular spray.  The department shall provide to the legislative transportation committee periodic reports on the review's progress and shall solicit comment from the commission on equipment and the Washington state patrol during the conduct of the review.  The results of the review shall be transmitted to the legislative transportation committee, the commission on equipment, and the Washington state patrol before the 1986 regular session of the legislature.

        Sec. 2.  Section 46.37.500, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 41, chapter 355, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 46.37.500 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No person ((shall)) may operate any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is not equipped with fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons adequate for minimizing the spray or splash of water or mud from the roadway to the rear of the vehicle.  All such devices shall be as wide as the tires behind which they are mounted and extend downward at least to the center of the axle.

(2) The commission on equipment may adopt rules requiring the installation on any commercial motor truck, truck tractor, semitrailer, or trailer, devices to suppress splash and spray caused by the operation of such vehicles.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1987.