HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2291

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                               Transportation

Title:  An act relating to regulating the use of optical strobe light devices controlling traffic control lights.

Brief Description:  Regulating the use of optical strobe light devices controlling traffic lights.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Fisher, Betrozoff and Zellinsky.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, January 30, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Brough; Cantwell; Cooper; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Heavey; Horn; P. Johnson; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Nelson; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304).

Background:  Optical strobe lights are devices used by emergency vehicles that emit an optical signal at a specific frequency to a traffic control light, enabling an emergency vehicle to assume the right of way at intersections.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Transportation's maintenance vehicles would be permitted to use optical strobe light devices to perform maintenance tests on traffic control lights.

Public transit agencies would be permitted to use optical strobe light devices in public transit vehicles to accelerate the cycle of the traffic control light.  Public transit vehicles operating an optical strobe light must yield to emergency vehicles when simultaneously approaching the same traffic signal.

   The Washington State Patrol is given rule making authority.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The Washington State Patrol is given rule making authority.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The Department of Transportation needs the authority to use optical strobe light devices in order to perform their maintenance responsibilities.  Public transit agencies need to use them to move their vehicles through congested intersections without unnecessary delay.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Otto Jensen, Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs; Dan Snow, Washington State Transit Association; John Conrad, Department of Transportation; Captain Tim Erickson, Washington State Patrol; and Deputy Chief Rick Jensen, Washington State Patrol.