Title: An act relating to allowing vehicles with hydraulics to operate on public roadways.

Brief Description: Allowing vehicles with hydraulics to operate on public roadways.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Clements, Kenney and Skinner).

Brief History:

Transportation: 2/14/05, 3/3/05 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/10/05, 94-0.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/12/05, 42-2.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 4/18/05, 95-0.
Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Buck, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Hankins, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

Vehicle hydraulic systems may be installed on cars that have been lowered and have limited ground clearance. Hydraulics are used to temporarily raise the car to drive over speed bumps or rough roads, or for recreation or show.

Current Washington Administrative Code prohibits vehicle hydraulic systems from being activated while the vehicle is driven on a public roadway. Safety concerns include the vehicle losing control due to system or brake failure and distraction of other drivers.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Vehicle hydraulic systems are allowed on public roads under the following conditions:

• the posted speed limit on the road is less than 25 miles per hour;
• the vehicle is traveling less than15 miles per hour;
• no portion of the tire leaves the surface of the roadway;
• the hydraulic system does not cause or emit sparks; and
• when lawfully participating in a permitted parade.

These restrictions do not apply to original manufacturer installed vehicle hydraulic systems.
If a driver receives three or more citations for a violation of this law, he or she must remove all hydraulics from the vehicle.

Local jurisdictions may enact stricter regulations.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: People invest considerable amounts of money in vehicle hydraulic systems, and they should be allowed under safe conditions. This bill mirrors other state laws that allow vehicle hydraulics under conditions that ensure safe operation.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Clements, prime sponsor; Representative Kenney; Agustin Perez; Troy Torgerson; and Jeff Morgan.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.