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).

Hearing Date: 3/21/05

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 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.

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

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 vehicles per day.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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