S-1430               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4331

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators DeJarnatt, Johnson and Rasmussen

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to safety belts; and amending RCW 46.37.510.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 117, Laws of 1963 as amended by section 42, chapter 355, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 46.37.510 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) No person ((shall)) may sell any automobile manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, nor ((shall)) may any owner cause such vehicle to be registered thereafter under the provisions of chapter 46.12 RCW unless such motor car or automobile is equipped with automobile seat belts installed for use on the front seats thereof ((which)) that are of a type and installed in a manner approved by the state commission on equipment.  Where registration is for transfer from an out of state license, an applicant shall be informed of this section by the issuing agent and have thirty days to comply.  The state commission on equipment shall adopt and enforce standards as to what ((shall)) constitutes adequate and safe seat belts and for the fastening and installation thereof((,)).  Such standards shall not ((to)) be below those specified as minimum requirements by the Society of Automotive Engineers on June 13, 1963.

          (2) Every passenger car manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1965, shall be equipped with at least two lap-type safety belt assemblies for use in the front seating positions.

          (3) Every passenger car manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with a lap-type safety belt assembly for each permanent passenger seating position.  This requirement shall not apply to police vehicles.

          (4) Every passenger car manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with at least two shoulder harness-type safety belt assemblies for use in the front seating positions.

          (5) Every school bus manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1986, and operated by a school district or private school of this state, shall be equipped with a lap-type safety belt assembly for each permanent passenger seating position.

(6) The commission on equipment shall excuse specified types of motor vehicles or seating positions within any motor vehicle from the requirements imposed by subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section when compliance would be impractical.

          (((6))) (7) No person ((shall)) may distribute, have for sale, offer for sale, or sell any safety belt or shoulder harness for use in motor vehicles unless it meets current minimum standards and specifications approved by the commission or the United States department of transportation.