FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5335

C 197 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Defining "motorcycle helmet."

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Zarelli, Haugen, Prentice, Mulliken, Benton, Oke and Carlson).

Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background: Currently, persons riding motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and mopeds are required to wear motorcycle helmets. The Washington State Patrol is authorized to adopt rules regarding motorcycle helmets. The State Patrol, in the Washington Administrative Code, has adopted the motorcycle helmet criteria of the U.S. Department of Transportation in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.

Summary: The authority of the Washington State Patrol to adopt rules for protective helmets is removed.

Motorcycle helmet is defined as a protective covering for the head consisting of a hard outer shell, padding adjacent to and inside the outer shell, and a neck or a chin strap type retention system, with a sticker indicating that the motorcycle helmet meets standards by the United States Department of Transportation.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       44  3

House       83  9    (House amended)

Senate       42  5    (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 27, 2003