BILL REQ. #:  S-4238.1 

Read first time 01/18/2006.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to traffic relief for operators of motorcycles; and amending RCW 46.61.608.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.61.608 and 1975 c 62 s 46 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.
     (2) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. However, when traffic is stopped or slowed to less than ten miles per hour, an operator of a motorcycle may overtake and pass slowed or stopped vehicles by use of a breakdown or access lane at a speed not exceeding twenty miles per hour. When using a breakdown lane or access lane under these circumstances, the operator of a motorcycle shall yield to both emergency vehicles and disabled vehicles.
     (3) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.
     (4) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.
     (5) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.