SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5052

BYSenators Rasmussen and Wojahn

Requiring protective measures for child passengers on motorcycles.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 17, 1987; March 3, 1987; March 5, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Peterson, Chairman; Hansen, Vice Chairman; Tanner, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Conner, DeJarnatt, Johnson, Patterson, Smitherman, West.

Senate Staff:Cathy Mayo (786-7304)

                  April 15, 1987

House Committe on Transportation

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 12, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Twenty states currently have a mandatory helmet law.  Twenty-three states require the use of helmets for young riders as follows:  19 states require helmets for everyone under age 18; two states, under age 19; one state, under age 21; and one state, under age 15-1/2.  One state requires a protection helmet only for the passenger.  Six states have no helmet laws.

In Washington State, during the year 1985, 75 children under age 12 were injured while riding as passengers on motorcycles; there were also 88 motorcyclists injured under age 16, and one fatality.

SUMMARY:

Any passenger under the age of twelve is prohibited from riding on a motorcycle without wearing a protective helmet approved by the state commission on equipment.

Any passenger under the age of five is prohibited from riding on a motorcycle.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Senator Lorraine Wojahn, prime sponsor; Charles Hayes, Traffic Safety Commission; Captain Rick Jensen, WSP; Rosy Hargrove, Tacoma; Captain Joice, Tacoma Police Department; Mike Kratcha, ABATE; Jack Zekzter, Committee on Traffic Law Modification; Bruce Riehl, Pierce County Sheriff's Department; Ken Youngblood, ABATE and daughter Jackie

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

It shall be illegal for any person to ride on or operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle without wearing a protective helmet of a type approved by the Commission on Equipment.  Helmets are required only when the motorcycle is operated upon a state highway, county road or city street.

It is illegal to transport a child under the age of five on a motorcycle.

A motorcycle may not be rented out unless the person renting it has in possession a helmet of a type approved by the Commission on Equipment.