Washington State House of Representatives	BILL ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

HB 1883

Brief Description:  Regulating carrying animals or persons in pickup beds.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lovick, Edwards, Fisher and Schual‑Berke.

Brief Summary of Bill

$It is illegal to transport any unrestrained animal or any person on the running board, fenders, hood or other outside part of any vehicle, including the bed of a pickup truck.

$Exceptions are provided for vehicles that have outside areas equipped with seats with seatbelts, providing that the person riding in that seat is securely fastened in the seatbelt.

Hearing Date:  2/19/01

Staff:  Penny Nerup (786‑7335).

Background: 

Under current law, it is illegal to transport any unrestrained animal or any person on the running board, fenders, hood, or other outside part of any vehicle.  Exceptions are made for authorized emergency vehicles or for solid waste collection vehicles while they are engaged in collection of solid waste or recyclables on their routes and at speeds of twenty miles per hour or less.

Because of uncertainty over whether the bed of a pickup truck constitutes the outside part of a vehicle, the law is rarely enforced.

Summary of Bill: 

This bill clarifies that the outside part of a vehicle includes the bed of a pickup truck, making it illegal to transport any unrestrained animal or any person in the bed of a pickup truck.

Exceptions are made for those vehicles that have outside areas equipped with seats with seatbelts, providing the person riding in that seat is securely fastened in the seatbelt.  The current exceptions for emergency vehicles and solid waste collection vehicles are not changed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 13, 2001.

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