Title: An act relating to special permits for oversized vehicles.

Brief Description: Limiting the issuance of special permits for oversized vehicles.

Sponsors: Senator Jacobsen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/1/06, 2/6/06 [DPS, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6398 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Berkey, Eide, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Sheldon, Spanel, Swecker and Weinstein.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senators Benton and Esser.

Staff: Hayley Gamble (786-7452)

Background: Vehicles traveling on state highways requiring oversized permits may affect traffic in adjoining lanes and contribute to congestion. Overweight vehicles that cannot maintain the same speed as surrounding traffic may also contribute to congestion.

In current law, the Department of Transportation (DOT) prohibits certain overweight and over-dimensional vehicles from traveling on specific segments of some state highways during peak commute times. Vehicle widths, times, and locations vary and are based upon location specific information such as lane widths and traffic flow data.

In current law, a driver found to be violating commute time restrictions on a permit is subject to a fine of $153, and may have his or her permit confiscated.

Summary of Substitute Bill: In addition to other fines that may apply, the fine for violating commute time travel restrictions on a permit is $1,000. The fine for failing to obtain a required permit restricting travel during commute times, and traveling during those restricted times is $1,000. On the third violation the driver's vehicle must be impounded for 30 days at the owner's expense.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The bill as referred to committee was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested January 31, 2006.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Oversized vehicles are traveling on the roads during restricted hours. Increasing the penalty will expedite the movement of transportation.

Testimony Against: None.

Testimony Other: Oversized trucks (obeying permit restrictions) may get caught in congestion and delayed. Rules could be made to account for this type of occurrence.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Jacobsen, prime sponsor.

OTHER: Patrick Halstead, Washington Trucking Association.