HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6360

BYSenator Thorsness

Updating the Model Traffic Ordinance.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (28)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair, Eastern Washington; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, Forner, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Jones, Kremen, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, Smith, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION FEBRUARY 19, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Model Traffic Ordinance (MTO), enacted in 1975, is a listing of all state traffic laws that are applicable to a municipality, and can be adopted by reference by any local authority to serve as its local traffic ordinance.  A local authority may adopt the MTO in full or in part, and may at any time exclude any section or sections it does not wish to include in its local laws.  Three-fourths of the cities and over half of the counties subscribe to this service.

The object is to incorporate into the MTO new legislative enactments that relate to traffic and motor vehicle regulation.  Including these statutes in the Model allows a city, town, or county that subscribes to the MTO to adopt these new laws by reference.  This eliminates the need to adopt a separate ordinance for each new law the municipality wishes to include in its code.

If a municipality desires to implement a new traffic law prior to passage of the updated MTO, a local ordinance, compatible with state law, must be adopted for each new law it wishes to include in its local traffic laws.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The Model Traffic Ordinance (MTO) is updated to include the following laws passed during the 1989 legislative session:  (1) mandatory automobile liability insurance; (2) tow truck fees, contracts, and penalties; (3) DOT removal of vehicles representing a hazard on bridges and mountain passes; and (4) certain provisions of the new Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Certain CDL provisions are added to the MTO.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately, with the exception of Section 2, which takes effect April 1, 1992.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jim Justin, Association of Washington Cities.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Adding new legislative enactments to the MTO expedites the process by which cities, towns, and counties may adopt these new laws by reference.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.