FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 5785

C 377 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the use of a nonhighway vehicle on certain nonhighway roads or trails that are restricted to pedestrian or animal travel.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Senators Parlette, Doumit, Benton, Mulliken, Schmidt and Honeyford).

Senate Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife

House Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks

Background: State law governing use of off-road vehicles applies on lands under federal, as well as state, jurisdiction. Existing state law has been interpreted as preempting federal agencies from allowing use of off-road vehicles on some roads that the agencies would otherwise open to off-road vehicles under federal regulations.

Summary: Use of off-road vehicles is a traffic infraction on nonhighway roads or trails, if these are restricted to pedestrian or animal travel.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       49  0

House       97  0

Effective: July 27, 2003