H-2018.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2208

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representative Ericksen

Read first time 02/27/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Certifying escort vehicle drivers.

    AN ACT Relating to certification of escort vehicle drivers; and adding a new section to chapter 46.44 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 46.44 RCW to read as follows:

    Consistent operating procedures are necessary for the safe interaction between escort vehicles, the escorted load, and the surrounding traffic.  Therefore, operators of escort vehicles must be certified as having received a predefined base level of training as an escort vehicle operator.

    (1) For purposes of this section, the term "escort vehicle" has the same meaning as the term pilot car and the terms may be used interchangeably.

    (2) All escort vehicle operators with a Washington state driver's license must have a valid Washington state escort vehicle operator certificate or card, which must be on the operator's person while performing escort vehicle operator duties.

    (3) Escort vehicle operators licensed to drive in Washington state and operating with current certification cards from a different jurisdiction, approved by the department, must get a Washington state escort vehicle operator's card upon expiration of their current card, but, in any case, not later than January 1, 2003.

    (4) Escort vehicle operators with a driver's license from a jurisdiction other than Washington state may acquire a Washington state escort vehicle operator certificate or card, or operate with a certification from another jurisdiction approved by the department, subject to ongoing department reviews and approval of the issuing jurisdiction's certification program.

    (5) The department's motor carrier services office shall maintain a current list of approved escort vehicle certification programs.

    (6) Washington state escort vehicle operator certificates or cards must be renewed every three years.

    (7) Operators of escort vehicles for farm vehicles or for timber hauling vehicles are exempt from the certification process of this section.

    (8) When uniformed off-duty law enforcement officers act as escorts, using official marked law enforcement vehicles or motorcycles, the requirements of this section may be modified by the department as necessary.

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