BILL REQ. #: H-1122.2

_____________________________________________

HOUSE BILL 1806
_____________________________________________

State of Washington

58th Legislature

2003 Regular Session

By Representatives Romero, Cooper and Lovick

Read first time 02/10/2003. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to regulation of motor vehicle bumpers; amending RCW 46.37.513; and adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
"Multipurpose passenger vehicle (MPV)" means a motor vehicle, except a trailer, designed to carry ten or fewer persons that is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.37.513 and 1977 ex.s. c 355 s 43 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) When any motor vehicle was originally equipped with bumpers or any other collision energy absorption or attenuation system, that system shall be maintained in good operational condition, and no person shall remove or disconnect, and no owner shall cause or knowingly permit the removal or disconnection of, any part of that system except temporarily in order to make repairs, replacements, or adjustments.
     (2)(a) It is unlawful to operate a passenger car, truck, or multipurpose passenger vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less on a public street or highway of this state if the vehicle has been altered or modified so that it has a bumper height greater than that specified in (b) of this subsection.
     (b) Maximum bumper heights are as follows:

Vehicle Class	Front	Back
Passenger Vehicles	22 inches	22 inches
Trucks and MPVs
4,500 lbs. and under GVWR:	24 inches	26 inches
4,501 lbs. to 7,500 lbs. GVWR:	27 inches	29 inches
7,401 lbs. to 10,000 lbs. GVWR:	28 inches	30 inches

Adding an additional bumper will not meet these requirements.
     (c) The bumper on any vehicle so altered or modified must be:
     (i) At least 4.5 inches in vertical height, centered on the vehicle's centerline, and extend no less than the width of the respective wheel track distances;
     (ii) Attached to the vehicle in a manner equivalent to the original manufacturer's installation;
     (iii) Horizontal load bearing and attached to the vehicle frame to effectively transfer energy when impacted.

--- END ---