_______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5222
_______________________________________________
Passed Legislature - 1995 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995
Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/02/95.
Regulating length of log trucks.
AN ACT Relating to log
trucks and pole trailers; amending RCW 46.44.030; providing an effective date;
and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 46.44.030 and 1994 c
59 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
It is unlawful for any
person to operate upon the public highways of this state any vehicle having an
overall length, with or without load, in excess of forty feet. This
restriction does not apply to (1) a municipal transit vehicle, (2) auto stage,
private carrier bus or school bus with an overall length not to exceed
forty-six feet, or (3) an articulated auto stage with an overall length not to
exceed sixty-one feet.
((It is unlawful for
any person to operate on the highways of this state any combination of vehicles
that contains a vehicle in excess of forty-eight feet, with or without load.))
It is unlawful for any
person to operate upon the public highways of this state any combination
consisting of a tractor and semitrailer that has a semitrailer length in excess
of fifty-three feet or a combination consisting of a tractor and two trailers
in which the combined length of the trailers exceeds sixty-one feet, with or
without load.
It is unlawful for any
person to operate on the highways of this state any combination consisting of a
truck and trailer, or log truck and stinger-steered pole trailer, with
an overall length, with or without load, in excess of seventy-five feet.
However, a combination of vehicles transporting automobiles or boats may have a
front overhang of three feet and a rear overhang of four feet beyond this
allowed length. "Stinger-steered," as used in this section, means
the coupling device is located behind the tread of the tires of the last axle
of the towing vehicle.
These length
limitations do not apply to vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or
other objects of a structural nature that cannot be dismembered and operated by
a public utility when required for emergency repair of public service
facilities or properties, but in respect to night transportation every such
vehicle and load thereon shall be equipped with a sufficient number of
clearance lamps on both sides and marker lamps upon the extreme ends of any
projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
The length limitations
described in this section are exclusive of safety and energy conservation
devices, such as mud flaps and splash and spray suppressant devices,
refrigeration units or air compressors, and other devices that the department
determines to be necessary for safe and efficient operation of commercial
vehicles. No device excluded under this paragraph from the limitations of this
section may have, by its design or use, the capability to carry cargo.
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 June 1, 1995.
