SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1129

  AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 30, 1993

Brief Description:  Limiting commercial motor vehicle inspections.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Fisher, Brown, Schmidt, Brough and Mielke; by request of Washington State Patrol)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Barr, Drew, Haugen, Nelson, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, von Reichbauer, and Winsley.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786‑7309)

Hearing Dates: March 30, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Because the current definition of "commercial vehicle" applies to any vehicle used primarily to transport commodities or passengers, this means that any vehicle engaged in commercial activities, regardless of weight, must stop at an open weigh station.  Some states have established a minimum weight limit (ranging from 8,000 to 26,000 pounds) for trucks required to stop at scale houses.

Current law requires that a State Patrol inspection of a commercial vehicle be done in conjunction with weight enforcement.

SUMMARY:

A commercial vehicle used to transport passengers or property that:  (1) has a gross weight rating of over 10,000 pounds or more, (2) is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, or (3) is a placarded vehicle transporting hazardous materials is subject to Washington State Patrol (WSP) safety inspections and is required to stop at a weigh station when open.  The 10,000 pound threshold for trucks stopping at the scales was chosen because:  (1) under federal law, a commercial vehicle is defined as a vehicle weighing over 10,000 pounds, and (2) Washington's truck speed limit is based on 10,000 pounds.  A recreational vehicle used for noncommercial purposes and a vehicle hauling a horse trailer for a noncommercial purpose are not required to stop at a scale house.  The WSP will continue to exempt, by rule, buses, vans and farm implements over 10,000 pounds from the scale house weighing requirements.

State Patrol vehicle equipment, driver qualification and hours of service inspections are no longer required to be conducted in conjunction with weight enforcement, thereby separating vehicle weight and inspection enforcement.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The amendment makes statutory the WSP policy, adopted by rule, that a bus is not required to stop at a weigh station when the "Trucks Stop at Scales" sign is posted.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill clarifies who must stop at public scale houses, and separates weight and vehicle inspection enforcement.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Tim Erickson, WSP