Title: An act relating to recreational vehicle appurtenances.

Brief Description: Allowing small appurtenances on recreational vehicles.

Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Doumit and Morton).

Brief History:

Transportation: 3/24/05, 3/31/05 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/11/05, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Buck, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Flannigan, Hankins, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

The outside width of any vehicle currently may not exceed eight and one-half feet. Safety appliances and appurtenances are excluded from this calculation, provided they do not extend more than three inches beyond the extreme limits of the body of the vehicle.

Summary of Bill:

Motor homes, travel trailers, and campers may have appurtenances that extend beyond the maximum vehicle width limitations so long as they do not extend more than four inches beyond the body of the vehicle, unless the appurtenance is an awning, which may extend no more than six inches beyond the body of the vehicle.

An appurtenance is defined as an appendage installed by a factory or vehicle dealer that is intended to be an integral part of the vehicle. This includes such items door handles, door hinges, and turn signal brackets. An appurtenance does not include a temporarily affixed item, an item attached to the exterior of the vehicle for the purpose of transporting it, or any item that obstructs the driver's rearward vision.

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: Heating vents and awnings are some of the items that violate the current standards. There is a demand for these items and industry wants to insure that they're legal. Industry is trying to conform all the standards for these items across the west so a manufacturer can sell their product anywhere. The Department of Transportation and industry are both in favor of the language in this bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Stu Holsan, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association; Tim Erickson, Washington State Department of Transportation; and Terry Kohl, Washington State Snowmobile Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.