S-1089.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5568

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

 

By Senator Heavey

 

Read first time 01/26/95.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

 

Limiting weight of tire studs.



    AN ACT Relating to studded tires; amending RCW 46.37.420; adding a new section to chapter 46.37 RCW; and providing an effective date.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 46.37 RCW to read as follows:

    A person may not sell a studded tire or sell a stud for installation in a tire if the sale is conducted as part of the person's business and the stud being sold or a stud used in the studded tire has a weight greater than (1) one and three-tenths grams if the stud is sold for use or is used with a tire that has a tire rim smaller than seventeen inches; or (2) two grams if the stud is sold for use or is used with a tire that has a tire rim equal to or greater than seventeen inches.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 46.37.420 and 1990 c 105 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) It is unlawful to operate a vehicle upon the public highways of this state unless it is completely equipped with pneumatic rubber tires except vehicles equipped with temporary-use spare tires that meet federal standards that are installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

    (2) No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway may have on its periphery any block, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberance of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except that it is permissible to use farm machinery with tires having protuberances that will not injure the highway, and except also that it is permissible to use tire chains or metal studs imbedded within the tire of reasonable proportions and of a type conforming to ((rules adopted by the state patrol)) section 1 of this act, upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.  It is unlawful to use metal studs imbedded within the tire between April 1st and November 1st.  The state department of transportation may, from time to time, determine additional periods in which the use of tires with metal studs imbedded therein is lawful.

    (3) The state department of transportation and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may issue special permits authorizing the operation upon a highway of traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with transverse corrugations upon the periphery of the movable tracks or farm tractors or other farm machinery, the operation of which upon a highway would otherwise be prohibited under this section.

    (4) Tires with metal studs imbedded therein may be used between November 1st and April 1st upon school buses and fire department vehicles, any law or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  This act takes effect July 1, 1996.

 


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