SENATE 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

Authorizes motorcycles to park at an angle on any highway so long as it does not extend into the roadway.
Allows more than one motorcycle to be parked per parking space so long as the motorcycles do not exceed the boundaries of the parking space.

Background: Generally, vehicles on a two-way roadway are required to be parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to, and within 12 inches of, the right-hand curb or right-hand shoulder of the road. Vehicles on a one-way roadway, unless provided otherwise by a local ordinance, must be parked parallel to, and within 12 inches of, either the right hand or left hand curb or shoulder of the road.

Local governments may allow angle parking on any roadway, however if the roadway is a federal-aid or state highway, the secretary of transportation must have determined that the roadway is wide enough to permit angle parking without interfering with free movement of traffic.

Summary of Bill: Motorcycles may park parallel or at an angle to the curb or edge of a highway with at least one wheel or fender within 12 inches of the curb or shoulder nearest to which the motorcycle is parked.

A motorcycle may not be parked so that it extends into the roadway.

More than one motorcycle may occupy a parking space, provided that the motorcycles do not exceed the boundaries of the parking space.

The discretion of the secretary of transportation to determine whether the roadway is wide enough to accommodate angle parking on a federal-aid or state highway is removed as it applies to motorcycle parking.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill formally legalizes the way motorcyclists have always parked. Some municipalities have looked at the laws on parking and started strictly enforcing the provisions that require any vehicle to park parallel to the curb and only one vehicle per space. People are getting $125 tickets—this is ridiculous. You can fit a number of motorcycles in one parking space when parked at an angle. Why would you waste the space by requiring parallel parking. Parking ticket revenues stay local so there is huge incentive for the local governments to keep issuing tickets, especially when there are motorcycle related events. That is almost $1,000 per parking spot in ticket revenues. We are asking for a common sense fix to clarify that motorcycles are allowed to angle park and can have more than one motorcycle per space.