Brief Description: Harmonizing vehicle size limits with federal rules.

Sponsors: By Representatives Kilmer, Wallace and Woods; by request of Department of Transportation.

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:


Vehicles considered to be "specialized equipment" include auto and boat carriers, certain cranes, concrete pumper trucks and various well drilling apparatus. To operate on public roadways in Washington, many of these vehicle classes must on a class-by-class basis, have a permit, and some are unable to operate due to incompatibilities with state law. In 2004 the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) adopted a federal rule in the category of specialized equipment regarding a vehicle combination used for moving explosives. A vehicle of this type is not permitted to operate under Washington law.

The FHA also revised its Federal National Safety Standard regarding external rearview mirrors used on vehicles engaged in interstate transport. Washington law, which does not allow mirrors to extend more than five inches from the side of the vehicle, is out of compliance with the FHA rule. In addition, the federal list of devices excluded from vehicle length and width measurements is dynamic, doubling in the last five years, with further revisions nearing adoption. Each change places state law out of compliance.

Summary:

The Department of Transportation is authorized to adopt rules regulating the size and weight of vehicles considered to be specialized equipment by the FHA, in the case of interstate travel, or the Department of Transportation, in the case of intrastate travel.

The partial list of safety and energy conservation devices that are excluded from the vehicle width and length requirements is repealed. Instead, the Department of Transportation is required to adopt rules identifying certain devices attached to vehicles for safety, energy conservation, or other necessary purposes. These devices are excluded from calculations of the vehicles length or width, provided that these devices are not designed or used to carry cargo.

External rearview mirrors are no longer limited to extending no more than five inches beyond the width limit of the vehicle. The mirrors may extend beyond the width limits of the vehicle to a point that allows conformance with the Federal National Safety Standard and state law.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   1
Senate   47   0

Effective: July 24, 2005