BILL REQ. #:  S-3708.2 

Read first time 01/13/2006.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to commercial driver's licenses reciprocity agreements; and amending RCW 46.25.050.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 46.25.050 and 1995 c 393 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Drivers of commercial motor vehicles shall obtain a commercial driver's license as required under this chapter ((by April 1, 1992. The director shall establish a program to convert all qualified commercial motor vehicle drivers by that date. After April 1, 1992,)). Except when driving under a commercial driver's instruction permit and a valid automobile or classified license and accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license valid for the vehicle being driven, no person may drive a commercial motor vehicle unless the person holds and is in immediate possession of a commercial driver's license and applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle they are driving. However, this requirement does not apply to any person:
     (a) Who is the operator of a farm vehicle, and the vehicle is:
     (i) Controlled and operated by a farmer;
     (ii) Used to transport either agricultural products, which in this section include Christmas trees and wood products harvested from private tree farms and transported by vehicles weighing no more than forty thousand pounds licensed gross vehicle weight, farm machinery, farm supplies, or any combination of those materials to or from a farm;
     (iii) Not used in the operations of a common or contract motor carrier; and
     (iv) Used within one hundred fifty miles of the person's farm; or
     (b) Who is a fire fighter or law enforcement officer operating emergency equipment, and:
     (i) The fire fighter or law enforcement officer has successfully completed a driver training course approved by the director; and
     (ii) The fire fighter or law enforcement officer carries a certificate attesting to the successful completion of the approved training course; or
     (c) Who is operating a recreational vehicle for noncommercial purposes. As used in this section, "recreational vehicle" includes a vehicle towing a horse trailer for a noncommercial purpose.
     (2) No person may drive a commercial motor vehicle while his or her driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or canceled, while subject to disqualification, or in violation of an out-of-service order. Violations of this subsection shall be punished in the same way as violations of RCW 46.20.342(1).
     (3) The department shall enter into reciprocity agreements with adjoining states to allow the waivers described in subsection (1) of this section to apply to drivers holding commercial driver's licenses from those adjoining states.