HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6070

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

(As Amended by Committee)

Authorizes motorcycles to be stopped or parked either parallel to or at an angle to the curb or edge of a highway where parking is permitted, so long as the motorcycle does not extend into the roadway.
Allows local jurisdictions to prohibit the angled stopping or parking of motorcycles with the passage of an ordinance and the posting of visible signage in any location to which the prohibition applies.
Permits more than one motorcycle to occupy a parking space provided they remain within the boundaries of the parking space.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 24 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Gregerson, Hayes, Irwin, Kloba, Lovick, McBride, Ortiz-Self, Pellicciotti, Pike, Riccelli, Rodne, Shea, Stambaugh, Tarleton, Valdez, Van Werven and Young.

Background:

Where vehicle parking is permitted and there is no local law permitting angled parking, vehicles stopped or parked on a two-way roadway must park with their right-hand wheels parallel to the curb and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder. Vehicles stopped or parked on a one-way roadway must park in this same manner and in the direction of traffic, unless otherwise specified by local ordinance. Local authorities may permit angled parking on any roadway, with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) approval required if the roadway is a federal-aid or state highway.

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Summary of Amended Bill:

Where vehicle parking is permitted, every motorcycle stopped or parked on a one-way or two-way highway may be stopped or parked parallel to or at an angle to the curb or edge of the highway, with at least one wheel or fender within 12 inches of the curb nearest to the motorcycle, or as close as is practical to the edge of the shoulder nearest to the motorcycle (WSDOT approval is not required for motorcycles to park at an angle if the highway is a federal-aid or state highway where parking is permitted). A motorcycle may not be parked in a manner that results in the motorcycle extending into the roadway.

A local jurisdiction may prohibit the angled stopping or parking of motorcycles on a one-way or two-way highway if the local jurisdiction passes an ordinance to that effect, so long as the local jurisdiction posts visible signage at any location to which the prohibition applies.

More than one motorcycle may occupy a parking space, provided that the motorcycles in the parking space remain within the boundaries of that parking space.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The amended bill permits a local jurisdiction to prohibit the angled stopping or parking of motorcycles on a one-way or two-way highway if the local jurisdiction passes an ordinance to that effect, as long as the local jurisdiction posts visible signage at any location to which the prohibition applies.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Motorcycles are not designed to be parked parallel to the curb. This bill allows motorcycles to park with their wheels toward the curb and to pull out onto the road in the direction of traffic throughout the state, rather than backing the vehicle into traffic. This provides for better visibility and increased safety when backing out of a parking space. It also allows more than one vehicle to park in a parking a space, freeing up parking for more than one vehicle. Motorcycles are not permitted to exceed the boundaries of a parking space.

The bill creates uniformity across the state, rather than the current patchwork of laws that are not consistently enforced. Motorcyclists and law enforcement officers are both responsible for knowing which municipalities allow angled parking and which do not, which creates friction between motorcyclists and municipalities.

Some municipalities feel that this bill would reduce their parking revenues, but the rental of a single parking space should be set at a specific fee, and if multiple motorcycles are parking in a parking space with an expired parking meter, than all motorcycles should receive a parking citation.

(Opposed) None.