Title: An act relating to licensing exemptions for transporting persons at horse races.

Brief Description: Exempting transport of persons at horse races from licensing.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen, Hewitt, Rasmussen and Kohl-Welles).

Brief History:

Transportation: 3/21/05 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Buck, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Flannigan, Hankins, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko and Upthegrove.

Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).

Background:

It is unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle along public roads without the proper vehicle license. Exceptions to this law include the following vehicles: motorized foot scooters, electric assisted bicycles, certain farm vehicles, spray or fertilizer rigs, fork lifts, and "special highway construction equipment."

Drivers of commercial motor vehicles are required to have a commercial driver's license, with some exceptions.

When the Emerald Downs racetrack was built, there was a private access road on the property that has since become a public right-of-way, under agreement with the City of Auburn. At Emerald Downs, trams transport visitors from the parking lot to the racetrack.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Trams used for transporting persons to and from facilities related to the horse racing industry are not required to be licensed so long as the public right-of-way over which the tram operates is not more than one mile long, and has an average daily traffic of not more than 15,000 vehicles per day.

A driver transporting people to and from horse racing facilities is not required to have a commercial driver's license, as long as the routes over which this transporting occurs are not more than one mile long, and the public right-of-way on which the driving occurs has an average daily traffic of not more than 15,000 vehicle per day.

The activity must be in conformity of with federal law and the operator must be a licensed driver and at least 18 years old.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The amended bill adds the language in the commercial driver license requirements that the activity must be in conformity with federal law and the driver must be a licensed driver and at least 18 years old.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.