S-3717.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6625

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Roach, Benton, Rossi, Stevens, Johnson, Morton and Finkbeiner

Read first time 01/20/2000.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Modifying the permitted use of high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

    AN ACT Relating to high-occupancy vehicle lanes; and amending RCW 46.61.165.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.61.165 and 1999 c 206 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    The state department of transportation and the local authorities are authorized to reserve all or any portion of any highway under their respective jurisdictions as high-occupancy vehicle lanes, including any designated lane or ramp, for the exclusive or preferential use of public transportation vehicles or private motor vehicles carrying no fewer than a specified number of passengers when ((such)) the limitation will increase the efficient utilization of the highway or will aid in the conservation of energy resources.  Regulations authorizing ((such)) exclusive or preferential use of a highway facility ((may be declared to be effective at all times or at specified times of day or on specified days)) are authorized only when the department of transportation determines that the level of traffic traveling on a high-occupancy vehicle lane is the same or greater than the level of traffic on an adjacent general purpose lane.  Violation of a restriction of highway usage prescribed by the appropriate authority under this section is a traffic infraction.

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