S-4708.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6684

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Horn, Goings, Rasmussen, Prentice, Prince and Oke)

Read first time 02/06/98.

Defining powers and duties of commercial vehicle officers.

    AN ACT Relating to the powers and duties of commercial vehicle enforcement officers and commercial vehicle officers; adding a new section to chapter 43.43 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:

    The powers and duties of the commercial vehicle enforcement officers and commercial vehicle officers are to enforce state and federal laws and regulations relating to motor transport carriers and other related statutes and regulations as directed by law.  Commercial vehicle enforcement officers have the same law enforcement and arrest authority as commissioned Washington state patrol officers as it relates to situations involving commercial vehicles.  This is limited police authority and does not grant commercial vehicle enforcement officers commissioned officers status or qualify those employees for membership in the Washington state patrol retirement system.  The patrol shall provide the training necessary to ensure the safety and success of the officers in the above-assigned duties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  By December 31, 1998, the Washington state patrol will complete and submit to the legislative transportation committees for approval, a study to identify options for the transition of commercial vehicle enforcement officer staff to Washington state patrol commissioned officers.  Once approved, the transition plan will be implemented by June 30, 2001.

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