HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2284

As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to the disqualification of drivers of commercial motor vehicles.

Brief Description:  Disqualifying commercial drivers for grade crossing violations.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Fisher, Hatfield, Mitchell and Haigh; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  1/21/02, 1/24/02 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/11/02, 97-0.

Passed Senate:  3/7/02, 49-0.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Disqualifies drivers of commercial vehicles for railroad‑highway grade crossing violations.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Fisher, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Armstrong, Edwards, Ericksen, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Holmquist, Jackley, Jarrett, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Wood and Woods.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Mielke.

Staff:  Penny Nerup (786‑7335).

Background:

This is Department of Licensing request legislation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration promulgates rules that govern commercial driver=s licenses.  A recent federal rule requires states to disqualify drivers of commercial vehicles who have been convicted of or found to have committed railroad‑highway grade crossing violations.  States must comply with this rule by October 4, 2002.  Failure to comply with federal requirements could result in the loss of up to 10 percent of federal transportation funds.

Current Washington law does not disqualify commercial drivers for railroad‑highway grade crossing violations.

Summary of Bill:

Holders of commercial driver=s licenses can be disqualified from driving commercial vehicles if they are convicted of or found to have committed one of the following railroad‑highway grade crossing violations:  failing to slow down or stop, failing to have sufficient space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping, failing to obey a traffic control device, or failing to negotiate a crossing because of insufficient undercarriage clearance.

Disqualifications range from 60 days for the first violation, to 120 days for two violations within three years, to one year for three or more violations within three years.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This critical piece of safety legislation will conform state law with federal regulations.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Clark Holloway, Department of Licensing; and Mike Rowswell, Utilities & Transportation Commission.