SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5785

As Passed Senate, March 18, 2003

Title: An act relating to the use of a vehicle on a nonhighway road or trail.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 2/24/03, 3/3/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/18/03, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5785 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Doumit, Esser, Jacobsen, Morton, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

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

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This clarification of the law will benefit disabled recreationists. Land managers will be able to allow or not allow off-road vehicles, according to the best interests of the area.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Parlette, prime sponsor (pro); Tom Baskin, Disabled Sportsmen Assn. (pro); Jim King, Citizens for Parks and Recreation (pro).