Title: An act relating to the impoundment of motorcycles and motor-driven cycles.

Brief Description: Authorizing the impoundment of motorcycles and motor-driven cycles operated by improperly licensed persons.

Sponsors: Senator Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/25/06, 2/6/06 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6727 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Berkey, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Oke, Spanel, Swecker and Weinstein.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Benton, Mulliken and Sheldon.

Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)

Background: Under certain circumstances, police officers may take custody of a vehicle and provide for its removal to a place of safety.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Operating a motor vehicle without a valid endorsement is added as a circumstance in which a police officer may take custody of a vehicle and provide for its removal to a place of safety.

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

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: Motorcycle fatalities are increasing at a higher rate than motorcycle registrations; 34 percent of those killed are not properly endorsed. This is common sense legislation with the sole purpose of safety.

Testimony Against: This bill targets specific groups.

Who Testified: PRO: Jeff Devere, Washington State Patrol; Jeff Sale, Cheney Police Department and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

CON: Larry Walker, Washington Road Riders; John Bolin; Darla Hale, ABATE of Washington.