H-1952.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2168

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Representative R. Meyers.

Read first time March 5, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.Directing a temporary study of truck weight.

     AN ACT Relating to a study of commercial vehicle weight limits; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      From April 1, to December 1, 1991, the Washington state patrol, in cooperation with the trucking and shipping industries, the state department of transportation, the Seattle and Tacoma port authorities, the state transportation plan's freight mobility subcommittee, and other interested parties shall enter into a six month pilot project aimed at identifying the number of containers transported by truck that exceed the legal load limitations of chapter 46.44 RCW.  The purpose of the study is to assess the amount of pavement damage to state highways that may be attributable to containerized cargo moving by truck into and out of the ports within the state of Washington.

     Washington state patrol employees shall weigh trucks carrying containers to and from the ports of Tacoma and Seattle during the pilot project.  When an illegal load is identified at the weighing site, no citation will be issued.  However, operators transporting overweight loads will be advised of the penalties for transporting the load on public highways.

     During the pilot project, the state patrol shall:

     (1) Periodically meet with representatives of the trucking and shipping industries, the state department of transportation, the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, the state transportation plan's freight mobility subcommittee, and other interested parties to review the data collected and discuss possible recommendations for consideration by the legislative transportation committee;

     (2) Contact the responsible California and Oregon state agencies that are responsible for truck weight enforcement in an attempt to address the issue on a regional basis; and

     (3) Periodically submit written progress reports to the legislative transportation committee on data collection, recommendations, and regional cooperation.

     The state patrol shall submit a final report along with its findings and recommendations to the legislative transportation committee by December 15, 1991.

     This section expires December 31, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.      This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect April 1, 1991.