BILL REQ. #: H-0052.2
State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2011 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/19/11. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to private road maintenance agreements; adding a new chapter to Title 64 RCW; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Easement" means a nonpossessory interest in the land of
another that entitles the holders of an interest in the easement to a
private right-of-way, embodying the right to pass across another's
land.
(2) "Holders of an interest in an easement" or "holder" means those
with a legal right to use the easement, including the owner of the land
across which the easement passes if the owner of the land has the legal
right to use the easement.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 (1) The holders of an interest in any
easement shall maintain the easement.
(2)(a) The cost of maintaining the easement must be shared by each
holder of an interest in the easement as provided in the terms of any
agreement entered into by the parties for that purpose or any recorded
instrument creating the easement.
(b) An agreement under (a) of this subsection must be recorded in
the real property records with the county auditor in the county or
counties in which the easement is located. A failure to record the
agreement does not affect the enforceability of the agreement among the
parties to the agreement and any other person with actual notice of the
agreement.
(3)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, in the absence
of an agreement under subsection (2) of this section and in the absence
of maintenance provisions in a recorded instrument creating the
easement, the cost of maintaining the easement must be shared by each
holder of an interest in the easement in proportion to the use made of
the easement by each holder.
(b) Each holder of an interest in an easement is solely responsible
for damage caused to the easement because of the holder's negligence or
abnormal use. The holder shall repair the damage at his or her own
expense.
(4)(a) Unless inconsistent with an agreement between the holders of
an interest in an easement or a recorded instrument creating the
easement, in determining proportionate use and settling conflicts the
following factors must be considered: (i) The frequency of use by the
holders; and (ii) the size and weight of vehicles used by the holders.
(b) Unless inappropriate, based on the factors contained in (a) of
this subsection or other relevant factors, the costs for normal and
usual maintenance of the easement and the costs of repair of the
easement damaged by natural disasters or other events for which all
holders of an interest in the easement are blameless may be shared on
the basis of percentages resulting from dividing the distance of total
normal usage of all holders into the normal usage distance of each
holder.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 (1)(a) A civil action for money damages,
specific performance, or contribution may be brought in a court of
competent jurisdiction against a holder if:
(i) The holder fails to maintain the easement according to an
agreement;
(ii) The holder fails to maintain the easement according to the
maintenance provisions of a recorded instrument creating the easement;
or
(iii) After receiving a demand in writing, the holder fails to pay
the holder's proportion of the cost for maintaining the easement as
indicated under section 2 of this act.
(b) An action under this section may be brought against a holder of
an interest in the easement by one or more of the other holders either
jointly or severally.
(2)(a) In an action brought under this section, the court may order
any equitable relief that may be just under the circumstances; and
(b) The court shall award the prevailing party all court costs,
arbitration fees, and attorneys' fees.
(3) Unless the parties are subject to mandatory arbitration under
chapter 7.06 RCW, any holder of an interest in an easement may apply to
the court of competent jurisdiction where the easement is located and
that has jurisdiction over the amount in controversy for the
appointment of an impartial arbitrator to apportion the cost, and the
matter may be arbitrated as provided in chapter 7.04A RCW. The
application may be made before, during, or after performance of the
maintenance work.
(4) Nothing in this chapter imposes a maintenance obligation on the
holder of an interest in an easement based on the maintenance
provisions in an instrument creating the easement if the holder is not
a party to the instrument, whether the instrument is recorded or not,
after the holder ceases to use the easement.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of
this section, this chapter applies to all easements existing on or
created after January 1, 2012.
(2) This chapter does not apply to any easement or right-of-way
held by any agency or department of the state, any political
subdivision of the state, any public service corporation, or any public
or private utility provider.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 Sections 1 through 4 of this act constitute
a new chapter in Title
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6 This act takes effect January 1, 2012.