BILL REQ. #:  H-0103.1 

     AN ACT Relating to towing vehicles; amending RCW 46.44.036; adding a new section to chapter 46.44 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 46.44 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A person may only operate upon the public roadways of this state a vehicle combination that meets the following requirements:
     (a) The tow vehicle within the vehicle combination must:
     (i) Be properly registered in compliance with RCW 46.17.355;
     (ii) Have a progressive brake controller; and
     (iii) Not exceed sixty miles per hour;
     (b) The vehicle combination must not:
     (i) Weigh more than twenty-six thousand pounds cumulatively; and
     (ii) Have a combined length greater than seventy-five feet;
     (c) The first vehicle being towed in the vehicle combination must be a fifth wheel-type vehicle;
     (d) Any vehicle over three thousand pounds that is being towed in the vehicle combination must have breakaway safety switches;
     (e) All towed vehicles in the vehicle combination must be within the manufacturer's hitch weight limit for the applicable vehicle's hitch;
     (f) The second vehicle being towed in the vehicle combination must be equipped with safety chains; and
     (g) All tow vehicles within the vehicle combination must be in compliance with the manufacturer's tow capacity specifications.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "vehicle combination" means any combination of vehicles consisting of at least two, but not more than three, vehicles.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.44.036 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 64 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     Except as provided in RCW 46.44.037, it is unlawful for any person to operate upon the public highways of this state any combination of vehicles consisting of more than ((two)) three vehicles. For the purposes of this section, a truck tractor-semitrailer or pole trailer combination will be considered as two vehicles but the addition of another axle to the tractor of a truck tractor-semitrailer or pole trailer combination in such a way that it supports a proportional share of the load of the semitrailer or pole trailer ((shall)) is not ((be)) deemed a separate vehicle but ((shall be)) is considered a part of the truck tractor. For the purposes of this section, a converter gear used in converting a semitrailer to a full trailer ((shall)) is not ((be)) deemed a separate vehicle but ((shall be)) is considered a part of the trailer.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect September 1, 2011.