FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1129

                         C 403 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Limiting commercial motor vehicle inspections.

By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Fisher, Brown, Schmidt, Brough and Mielke; by request of Washington State Patrol).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:  Because the current definition of "commercial vehicle" applies to any vehicle used primarily to transport commodities or passengers, any vehicle engaged in commercial activities, regardless of weight, must stop at an open weigh station and submit to weighing.  Some states have established a minimum scalehouse weight standard, ranging from 8,000 to 26,000 pounds, for trucks required to stop at scale houses.

Current law requires that a State Patrol inspection of a commercial vehicle be done in conjunction with weight enforcement.

Summary:  A "commercial vehicle" is defined as a vehicle used to transport passengers or property that:  (1) has a gross weight rating of over 10,000 pounds, (2) is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, or (3) is a placarded vehicle transporting hazardous materials.  All commercial vehicles are subject to Washington State Patrol (WSP) safety inspections.  Commercial vehicles, other than buses, are required to stop at a weigh station when open and submit to weighing.  Exempting buses from the weighing provisions is currently WSP policy.  A recreational vehicle or a vehicle hauling a horse trailer for a noncommercial purpose is not required to stop at a scalehouse and submit to weighing.  The 10,000 pound threshold for trucks stopping at the scales was chosen because:  (1) under federal law, a commercial vehicle is defined as a vehicle weighing over 10,000 pounds, and (2) Washington's truck speed limit is based on 10,000 pounds.

State Patrol vehicle equipment, driver qualification and hours of service inspections need not be conducted in conjunction with weight enforcement.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  96 0

Senate 45 0 (Senate amended)

House  97 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1993