HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2458


 

 

 




As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

 

Title: An act relating to extending the motor vehicle width limit for recreational vehicle appurtenances.

 

Brief Description: Extending the motor vehicle width limit for recreational vehicle appurtenances.

 

Sponsors: Representatives Hatfield and Buck.


Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/9/04 [DPS].

 

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

    Allows awnings on campers, motor homes, and travel trailers to exceed the maximum eight and one half foot vehicle width by up to six inches.



 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION


Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; G. Simpson, Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Kristiansen, Lovick, Mielke, Nixon, Rodne, Romero, Shabro, Sullivan, Wallace, Wood and Woods.

 

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Dickerson and Morris.

 

Staff: Page Scott (786-7301).

 

Background:

 

In general, the total outside width of a vehicle or load is limited to eight and one-half feet. Mirrors may extend up to five inches beyond this maximum width and several other safety-related appurtenances are limited to three inches.

 


 

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:

 

Awnings and their support hardware may exceed the maximum vehicle width by up to six inches on campers, motor homes, and travel trailers. These awnings must be affixed to the vehicle at a height that does not impair the driver's vision to see the rear of the vehicle.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

 

The original bill allowed other appurtenances besides awnings to exceed the maximum vehicle width by six inches. The substitute bill is limited to awnings and their support hardware and requires that they be attached at a height that does not obstruct the driver's vision to see the rear of the vehicle.

 


 

 

Appropriation: None.

 

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

 

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

 

Testimony For: This bill is necessary to bring Washington into conformity with other states that allow these appurtenances to exceed maximum vehicle width and to reflect current enforcement practice.

 

Testimony Against: None.

 

Persons Testifying: Stu Halsan, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

 

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.