HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1175

                      As Passed House:

                        March 9, 1999

Title:  An act relating to street rods.

Brief Description:  Regulating street rods.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cairnes, O'Brien, DeBolt, Dunshee, Schindler, Morris, Koster, Cooper, G. Chandler, Mulliken, Benson, Mielke, Stensen, Carrell, Ogden, Dunn and McIntire.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/16/99, 2/22/99 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/9/99, 97-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Amends definition of street rods to include reproduced replicas built after 1949.

$Allows street rods that are collectors' items to operate without fenders.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 28 members:  Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co-Chair; K. Schmidt, Republican Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic 1st Vice Chair; Edwards, Democratic 2nd Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Buck; G. Chandler; DeBolt; Fortunato; Haigh; Hatfield; Hurst; Lovick; McDonald; Mielke; Mitchell; Morris; Murray; Ogden; Pflug; Radcliff; Romero; Schindler; Schual-Berke; Scott; Skinner and Wood.

Staff:  Paul Johnson (786-7839).

Background:

A street rod is a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, which is either (1) manufactured before 1949, or (2) built or reconstructed with major parts manufactured before 1949. 

In addition to being pre-1949 in origin, a street rod is modified in its body style or design through the use of non-original or reproduced parts.  Examples include modifications to the frame, drive train, engine, suspension, or brakes that in no way affects the vehicle's safety or road-worthiness.

No person may operate a motor vehicle that is not equipped with fenders or splash aprons that prevent mud or water from spraying off the roadway to the rear of the car.  A motor vehicle not less than 40 years old and owned/operated primarily as a collector's item does not need fenders when driven in fair weather on a well-maintained, hard surface road.

Summary of Bill:

A street rod vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, which is (1) manufactured before 1949, (2) assembled or reconstructed with major parts manufactured before 1949, or (3) assembled or manufactured after 1949 to resemble a pre-1949 vehicle.

In addition to having one of these historical characteristics, a street rod must also be (1) modified in its body style with non-original or reproduced parts, or (2) constructed from non-original materials, or altered dimensionally or in shape and appearance different from the original manufactured body.

A motor vehicle that is either (1) not less than 40 years old, or (2) a street rod vehicle that is owned/operated primarily as a collector's item, does not need to be equipped with fenders.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Original steel body frames are becoming harder to find and more expensive than later reproductions.  This change will allow for reproduction street rod vehicles, built after 1949, to be in compliance with the law.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Scott Cedergreen, Washington Car Club Council; and Dan Brooks, Grafitti Vintage Club/Washington Car Club Council.