HOUSE BILL REPORT

HCR 4408

BYRepresentatives Haugen, Schmidt, Walk, Baugher, D. Sommers, Gallagher, Patrick, S. Wilson, Fisch, Fisher, Cantwell, Heavey, Spanel, Meyers, Zellinsky, Betrozoff, Cooper, Doty, Hankins and May

Reducing duplication in trucking regulation and enforcement.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (29)

      Signed by Representative Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Brough, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Kremen, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Sutherland, Todd, J. Williams, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

During the 1986 interim, the Joint Subcommittee on Truck Safety Enforcement, composed of 13 members of the House and Senate transportation committees, examined the roles of various state agencies charged with truck safety enforcement.

The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) operates the ports of entry and scale houses, and is responsible for weight control and permit enforcement (vehicle license and fuel trip permits, oversize/overweight permits).  The Department of Transportation is the policy agency for issuance of oversize/overweight permits.  Permits may be obtained from the department, its regional offices or agents, and the WSP.  The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has both safety and economic rule-making and enforcement authority over for-hire carriers.

Both the WSP and UTC are authorized to conduct truck safety inspections (equipment, log books, driver qualifications, etc.).  The UTC's authority is limited to common/contract (for-hire) carriers and primarily consists of terminal surveys, although port of entry, scale house and on-highway inspections are randomly conducted.  The WSP is authorized to inspect any carrier and conducts port of entry, scale house and roadside inspections.

The purpose of the study was to determine if there is overlapping jurisdictional authority, and if so, whether a reduction in duplication was in the public interest.  The committee concluded that prior to taking legislative action, there was a need to further explore the possibility of reducing duplication through the execution of interagency agreements.

SUMMARY:

In the interest of public safety, the Washington State Patrol, Utilities and Transportation Commission, and Department of Transportation are directed to develop and implement programs to reduce duplication and consolidate truck safety functions.  To the maximum extent possible, programs will be implemented through interagency agreements.  The agencies will collectively provide the Legislative Transportation Committee with (1) periodic reports on their progress, and (2) a final report by December, 1987 which will include any legislative recommendations for further program changes.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Chief George Tellevik, Washington State Patrol.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The Patrol and UTC have already begun to explore the use of interagency agreements as a means of reducing duplication.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.