SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5579

               As Passed Senate, March 13, 1999

Title:  An act relating to tires on farm machinery.

Brief Description:  Allowing solid rubber tires on farm machinery.

Sponsors:  Senators Loveland, Honeyford and Hale.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/10/99, 2/11/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/13/99, 44-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Sellar, Sheahan, T. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  Any vehicle operating on a public highway must be equipped with pneumatic rubber tires (filled with compressed air), except when equipped with temporary spare tires that meet federal standards.  Farm machinery with pneumatic tires and protuberances that do not damage the roadway may be moved along a state highway without a permit.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) may issue special permits for the movement of vehicles with movable tracks, farm tractors, and farm equipment.

Farm equipment is currently being manufactured that is equipped with solid rubber tire tracks that allow the operator to transverse any type of terrain while keeping the tractor weight evenly distributed.

Summary of Bill:  Farm machinery equipped with solid rubber tracks may be moved along a state highway without a special permit as long as the tracks do not damage the highway.  If DOT determines that the solid rubber tracks are damaging the highway, the department may prohibit their use under current law.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  There is not always time to get a special permit during harvest.  Technology has surpassed current law and this legislation makes the necessary adjustment.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Ray Shindler, Washington Association of Wheat Growers; Captain Eric Robertson, Washington State Patrol.