H-650                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 311

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Zellinsky, Schmidt, Haugen and Walk

Read first time 1/23/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to passengers in motor vehicles; and amending RCW 46.61.660.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 46.56.070, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 and RCW 46.61.660 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport any living animal on the running board, fenders, hood, or other outside part of any vehicle unless suitable harness, cage or enclosure be provided and so attached as to protect such animal from falling or being thrown therefrom.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport any persons upon the running board, fenders, hood or other outside part of any vehicle, except that this provision shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.

(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a pickup or truck with any passenger riding in the open bed area of the vehicle unless the passenger is properly seated in designated manufactured seating provided by the vehicle manufacturer.  This subsection shall not apply to the operation of a farm vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.181, or any pickup or flatbed truck owned by a farmer as defined by RCW 46.04.182 and being used in connection with farm work within a thirty-five mile radius of the farmer's farm or farms.  This subsection shall also not apply in any life-threatening situation in which the transportation of passengers is necessary for the preservation of public health, safety, or welfare.