SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                           SHB 1267

 

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 16, 1994

 

 

Brief Description:  Requiring liability insurance for motorcycles.

 

SPONSORS: House Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance (originally sponsored by Representatives Zellinsky, Mielke, Dorn, Scott, Reams, R. Meyers, Dellwo, Sheldon, Eide, King, Franklin, L. Johnson and Springer)

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & INSURANCE

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

 

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Fraser, McAuliffe, Sutherland and Wojahn.

 

Staff:  Blaine Gibson (786‑7375)

 

Hearing Dates:  April 1, 1993; April 2, 1993; February 16, 1994

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

In 1991, the Legislature passed a mandatory automobile liability insurance law requiring owners and operators of motor vehicles to carry a liability insurance policy in the amount of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 per accident for property damage.  Motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and mopeds were excluded from the mandatory insurance requirements.

 

SUMMARY:

 

Auto insurance is required only for motor vehicles operated on public roads.  The state mandatory automobile insurance law exclusion for motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and mopeds is repealed.  Owners and operators of these types of vehicles are required to obtain motor vehicle liability insurance.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  requested

 

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

 

Motorcycle liability insurance is expensive and very difficult to obtain.  Motorcycles are not heavy and it is very rare that one causes damage to another vehicle or pedestrian.  Most motorcycles are driven only occasionally.  The Legislature should not place this burden on motorcycle riders without providing a means for them to obtain insurance at a reasonable price.

 

TESTIFIED:  CON:  Russel G. Orr, Monty McKeehen, ABATE of WA; Karen Bolin, Mike Leibold, WA Motorsports Dealer Assn.