BILL REQ. #: H-2779.1

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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1625
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State of Washington

60th Legislature

2007 Regular Session

By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives DeBolt, Blake, Hinkle, Warnick, Seaquist, Kagi, Kirby, Hunt, Wood, Dickerson, Conway, Lovick, Roach, Chase, Dunn, Flannigan, McCune, Priest, McDermott, Santos, Williams, McDonald, Newhouse, Alexander, Strow, Kretz, Condotta, Roberts, Ormsby, Haigh, Rolfes and Moeller)

READ FIRST TIME 3/5/07.

AN ACT Relating to motorcycles at traffic signals; adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.61 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the operator of a street legal motorcycle approaching a left turn intersection that is controlled by a triggered traffic control signal using a vehicle detection device that is inoperative due to the size of the street legal motorcycle shall come to a full and complete stop at the intersection. If the left turn signal fails to operate after one cycle of the traffic signal, the operator may, after exercising due care, proceed to turn left, if the operator is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy with liability limits of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, is self-insured as provided in RCW 46.29.630, is covered by a certificate of deposit in conformance with RCW 46.29.550, or is covered by a liability bond of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090. It is not a defense to a violation of RCW 46.61.050 that the driver of a motorcycle proceeded under the belief that a traffic control signal used a vehicle detection device or was inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle when the signal did not use a vehicle detection device or that any such device was not in fact inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle.
     (2) Turning left as provided for in subsection (1) of this section while not insured under a motor vehicle liability policy with liability limits of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, not self-insured as provided in RCW 46.29.630, not covered by a certificate of deposit in conformance with RCW 46.29.550, or not covered by a liability bond of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, is a traffic infraction, and the operator is subject to the same penalty imposed for violations under RCW 46.30.020(1)(d).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 This act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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