WSR 98-04-043

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Filed January 30, 1998, 10:47 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Revision to WAC 468-38-260, allowing permitted oversize loads to move during night-time hours under specific conditions.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 46.44.090 Special permits for over-size or over-weight vehicles.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The revision is necessary to bring current practice into compliance with the rule. Current practice has been changed to provide greater safety to the motoring public by allowing certain over-dimensional moves to be made during hours of low traffic volume.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Washington State Patrol (WSP) is the enforcement arm of this rule and was part of the decision-making process.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study, the revision was a recommendation from a process improvement team looking at the motor carrier services permitting processes. Besides the department, the WSP and industry were represented on the team.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Barry Diseth, phone (360) 664-9497, FAX (360) 664-9440. No formal meetings are scheduled due to the nature of the change. An emergency rule change is in place.

January 30, 1998

Gerald E. Smith

Deputy Secretary