H-580                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 161

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Fisher, Winsley, Walk, Ebersole, Jacobsen, Belcher, Holm, Valle, Cole, Brekke, Leonard, Rasmussen, Bumgarner, Ferguson, May, Grimm and Wang

Read first time 1/19/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to motorcycle helmets; and amending RCW 46.37.530 and 46.37.535.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 4, chapter 232, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 8, chapter 113, Laws of 1986 and RCW 46.37.530 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) It is unlawful:

          (a) For any person to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle not equipped with mirrors on the left and right sides of the motorcycle which shall be so located as to give the driver a complete view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of the motorcycle or motor-driven cycle:  PROVIDED, That mirrors shall not be required on any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle over twenty-five years old originally manufactured without mirrors and which has been restored to its original condition and which is being ridden to or from or otherwise in conjunction with an antique or classic motorcycle contest, show, or other such assemblage:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That no mirror is required on any motorcycle manufactured prior to January 1, 1931;

          (b) For any person to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle which does not have a windshield unless wearing glasses, goggles, or a face shield of a type conforming to rules adopted by the state commission on equipment;

          (c) For any person to operate or ride upon a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless wearing upon his or her head a protective helmet of a type conforming to rules adopted by the commission on equipment.  The helmet must be equipped with either a neck or chin strap which shall be fastened securely while the motorcycle or motor-driven cycle is in motion;

(d) For any person to sell or offer for sale a motorcycle helmet which does not meet the requirements established by the state commission on equipment.

          (2) The state commission on equipment is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt and amend rules, pursuant to the administrative procedure act, concerning the standards and procedures for conformance of rules adopted for glasses, goggles, face shields, and protective helmets.

        Sec. 2.  Section 10, chapter 232, Laws of 1967 as last amended by section 9, chapter 113, Laws of 1986 and RCW 46.37.535 are each amended to read as follows:

          It is unlawful for any person to rent out motorcycles unless he also has on hand for rent helmets of a type conforming to rules adopted by the commission on equipment.

No motorcycle may be rented out unless the person renting it has in his or her possession a helmet of a type approved by the commission on equipment, regardless of from whom the helmet is obtained.