H‑0331.2 _____________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1802
_____________________________________________
State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Representatives Dunshee, Mielke, Murray, Hankins, Skinner, Hurst and Romero
Read first time 02/05/2001. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
_1 AN ACT Relating to providing incentives to reduce air pollution
_2 through the licensing and use of neighborhood electric vehicles;
_3 amending RCW 46.04.320; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW;
_4 adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; prescribing penalties;
_5 and providing an effective date.
_6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
_7 Sec. 1. RCW 46.04.320 and 1961 c 12 s 46.04.320 are each amended
_8 to read as follows:
_9 "Motor vehicle" ((shall)) means
every vehicle which is self-
10 propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power
11 obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.
12 "Motor vehicle" includes a neighborhood electric vehicle as
13 defined in section 2 of this act and operated pursuant to section
14 3 of this act.
15 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.04
16 RCW to read as follows:
17 "Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled,
p. 1 HB 1802
_1 electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle that has a speed
_2 attainable in one mile that does not exceed twenty-five miles per
_3 hour and conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R.
_4 Part 571.500.
_5 NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.61
_6 RCW to read as follows:
_7 (1) Absent prohibition by local authorities authorized under
_8 this section and except as prohibited elsewhere in this section, a
_9 person may operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon a highway
10 of this state having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour
11 or less as long as:
12 (a) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle
13 upon streets and highways which are parts of the state highway
14 system which are subject to the provisions of Title 47 RCW;
15 (b) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle
16 upon a highway of this state without first having obtained and
17 having in full force and effect a current and proper vehicle
18 license and displays vehicle license number plates in compliance
19 with chapter 46.16 RCW;
20 (c) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle
21 upon a highway of this state without first obtaining a valid
22 driver's license issued to Washington residents in compliance with
23 chapter 46.20 RCW;
24 (d) A person does not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle
25 subject to registration under chapter 46.16 RCW on a highway of
26 this state unless the person is insured under a motor vehicle
27 liability policy in compliance with chapter 46.30 RCW;
28 (e) A person operating a neighborhood electric vehicle does not
29 cross a roadway with a speed limit in excess of thirty-five miles
30 per hour, unless the crossing begins and ends on a roadway with a
31 speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less and occurs at an
32 intersection of approximately ninety degrees, except that the
33 operator of a neighborhood electric vehicle must not cross an
34 uncontrolled intersection of streets and highways which are part
35 of the state highway system subject to the provisions of Title 47
36 RCW unless that intersection has been authorized by local
37 authorities provided elsewhere in this section.
HB 1802 p. 2
_1 (2) Any person who violates this section commits a traffic
_2 infraction.
_3 (3) The provisions of this section do not prevent local
_4 authorities, with respect to streets and highways under their
_5 jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of their police
_6 power, from regulating the operation of neighborhood electric
_7 vehicles on streets and highways under their jurisdiction by
_8 resolution or ordinance of the governing body, if the regulation
_9 is consistent with the provisions of this title, except that:
10 (a) Local authorities may not authorize the operation of
11 neighborhood electric vehicles on streets and highways which are
12 part of the state highway system subject to the provisions of
13 Title 47 RCW;
14 (b) Local authorities may not prohibit the operation of
15 neighborhood electric vehicles upon highways of this state having
16 a speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour or less;
17 (c) Local authorities are prohibited from establishing any
18 requirements for the registration and licensing of neighborhood
19 electric vehicles.
20 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act takes effect January 1, 2002.
‑‑‑ END ‑‑‑
p. 3 HB 1802