S-3378               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4533

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Saling, DeJarnatt, Bender, Vognild and Patterson

Read first time 1/15/86 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to motorcycle helmets for minors; and amending RCW 46.37.530.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 4, chapter 232, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 7, chapter 77, Laws of 1982 and RCW 46.37.530 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) It is unlawful:

          (a) For any person to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle not equipped with mirrors on the left and right sides of the motorcycle which shall be so located as to give the driver a complete view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of the motorcycle or motor-driven cycle:  PROVIDED, That mirrors shall not be required on any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle over twenty-five years old originally manufactured without mirrors and which has been restored to its original condition and which is being ridden to or from or otherwise in conjunction with an antique or classic motorcycle contest, show or other such assemblage:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That no mirror shall be required on any motorcycle manufactured prior to January 1, 1931;

          (b) For any person to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle which does not have a windshield unless wearing glasses, goggles, or a face shield of a type approved by the state commission on equipment;

          (c) For any person under the age of eighteen years to operate  a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle or for a person age eighteen or over to carry a passenger under age eighteen on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless the person under eighteen wears upon his or her head a protective helmet of a type approved by the state commission on equipment.  The helmet shall be equipped with either a neck or chin strap that shall be fastened securely while the motorcycle or motor-driven cycle is in motion;

(d) For any person to sell or offer for sale a motorcycle helmet which does not meet the requirements established by the state commission on equipment.

          (2) The state commission on equipment is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt and amend regulations, pursuant to the administrative procedure act, concerning the standards and procedures for approval of glasses, goggles, face shields, and protective helmets required in this section.  The state commission on equipment shall maintain and publish a list of those devices which the commission on equipment has approved.