SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6360

BYSenator Thorsness

Updating the Model Traffic Ordinance.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 25, 1990; January 29, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Benitz, Conner, Hansen, McMullen, Madsen, Murray, Nelson, Patrick, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Cathy Mayo (786-7304)

                  February 5, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 5, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Model Traffic Ordinance (MTO), enacted in 1975, is a listing of all state traffic laws which 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.  It is a service that three-fourths of the cities and over half of the counties in the state subscribe to. 

New legislative enactments that relate to the regulation of traffic and motor vehicles within a municipality should be incorporated into the MTO.  Including these statutes by reference in the model ordinance allows the cities, towns and counties which have adopted the MTO to enforce these laws without having to enact separate ordinances for each one.

If a municipality desires to implement a new traffic law prior to legislative passage of the updated MTO, then it must enact its own local ordinance compatible with the state law.

SUMMARY:

The Model Traffic Ordinance is updated to include the laws passed during the 1989 legislative session relating to:  (1) mandatory liability insurance; (2) tow truck fees, contracts, and penalties; and (3) DOT removal of vehicles representing a hazard on bridges and mountain passes.

The legislation takes effect immediately with the exception of Section 2, which takes effect April 1, 1992, as set forth in RCW 46.90.300.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: No one