BILL REQ. #:  H-2340.4 

Read first time 04/22/11.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to a high occupancy vehicle lane exemption for plug-in vehicles; adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; and providing an expiration 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) For the purposes of this section, "plug-in vehicle" means a four-wheeled motor vehicle that:
     (a) Is made by a manufacturer;
     (b) Is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways;
     (c) Has not been modified from original manufacturer specifications;
     (d) Does not have a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8,500 pounds;
     (e) Has a maximum speed capability of at least sixty-five miles per hour;
     (f) Is propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery that:
     (i) Has a capacity of not less than 3.4 kilowatt hours; and
     (ii) Is capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity; and
     (g) Is acquired by the owner on or after October 1, 2010.
     (2) Whenever the department of transportation places a traffic control device on a highway designating a portion of the highway as a high occupancy vehicle lane, the traffic control device must also indicate that the high occupancy vehicle lane may be used at all times by plug-in vehicles that have obtained a permit from the department of transportation under this section, regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle.
     (3)(a) The department of transportation shall consult with the Washington state patrol and the local authorities to design a permit using existing resources by July 1, 2012, to designate a vehicle as a plug-in vehicle authorized to use a high occupancy vehicle lane.
     (b) The secretary of transportation may limit the number of permits issued to ensure that high occupancy vehicle lane operations are not degraded to an unacceptable level.
     (4) Beginning December 1, 2012, and by every December 1st thereafter, the department of transportation shall report to the legislature on the effect of the use of plug-in vehicle permits issued under this section on the operation of high occupancy vehicle lanes in Washington state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act expires August 1, 2015.