PERMANENT RULES
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Provides additional standards that will increase public safety. Adding new restrictions to WAC 204-36-040 that would prohibit signs, shield markings, accessories and insignia used on uniforms, clothing or equipment which may imply that the operator is a law enforcement officer. Also adding langue [language] to restrict the use of the word police or patrol in the name of the applicant.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 204-36-040.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.37.194 and 46.37.005.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-22-077 on November 3, 2009.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Melissa Van Gorkom, P.O. Box 42600, Olympia, WA 98504-2600, phone (360) 596-4017, fax (360) 596-4015, e-mail melissa.vangorkom@wsp.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: December 14, 2009.
John R. Batiste
Chief
OTS-2755.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-09-091, filed 4/16/09,
effective 5/17/09)
WAC 204-36-040
Permit limitations.
(1) A vehicle
authorized by the patrol must not be used as an authorized
emergency vehicle except as follows:
(a) Only by the operators named in the original or amended application approved by the patrol. If the applicant wishes to add or remove operator(s) from the permit, such request must be made to the patrol in writing.
(b) Only with the equipment described in the original or amended application approved by the patrol.
(c) Only within the geographic area described in the original or amended application approved by the patrol.
(d) Only for the purposes set forth in the original or amended application approved by the patrol.
(e) If being used for escort services, may be used only for funeral escorts.
(2) If an authorized emergency vehicle is used for private purposes, or for purposes in an area or by an operator other than as set forth in the application, all emergency equipment which is exposed to public view must be removed or covered with an opaque hood, and must not be operated during such period of time.
(3) The issuance of an emergency vehicle permit does not relieve the driver from the duty to drive with regard for the safety of all persons, nor will such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his disregard for the safety of others and does not grant police authority to the operators of said vehicle. Any inappropriate or misuse of authorized emergency vehicles may result in criminal or civil liability as well as cancellation of the emergency vehicle permit.
(4) No permit will be issued to an applicant if the name of the applicant portrays the applicant as a public law enforcement agency, or in association with a public law enforcement agency, or includes the word "police" or "patrol."
(5) An operator under an approved emergency vehicle permit will not be allowed to display or use any of the following:
(a) A name that includes the word "police," "patrol," or "law enforcement," or other word which portrays the individual or business as a public law enforcement agency.
(b) A sign, shield, marking, accessory or insignia on their uniform, clothing or equipment to imply that he or she is a law enforcement officer.
(6) Subsections (4) and (5) of this section do not apply:
(a) If the applicant is recognized under Washington state law as a municipal corporation and certifies to the patrol that the applicant is a municipal corporation; or
(b) If the sign, shield, marking, accessory or insignia on the operator's uniform or equipment is issued by a public law enforcement agency; the operator is employed by the public law enforcement agency that the operator is representing with the sign, shield, marking, accessory or insignia on the operator's uniform or equipment; and the operator is approved to operate the vehicle by that public law enforcement agency for the purposes outlined under the authorized emergency vehicle permit.
(7) All current permit holders as of December 31, 2010, will have until January 1, 2012, to make changes necessary to comply with the requirements outlined in subsections (4) and (5) of this section.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.194 and 46.37.005. 09-09-091, § 204-36-040, filed 4/16/09, effective 5/17/09; 02-07-055, § 204-36-040, filed 3/14/02, effective 4/14/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.194. 90-07-034, § 204-36-040, filed 3/15/90, effective 4/15/90; 88-15-052 (Order 88-08-ESR), § 204-36-040, filed 7/18/88; Order 7301, § 204-36-040, filed 2/5/73.]