HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1129

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to commercial motor vehicle inspection.

Brief Description:  Limiting commercial motor vehicle inspections.

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

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 2, 1993, DPS;

  Passed House, February 22, 1993, 96-0;

Amended by Senate;

Passed Legislature, April 20, 1993, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 21 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Hansen; Heavey; Johanson; J. Kohl; Miller; Orr; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  Because the current definition of "commercial vehicle" applies to any vehicle used primarily to transport commodities or passengers, this means that any vehicle, regardless of weight, engaged in commercial activities must stop at an open weigh station.  Some states have established a minimum weight limit (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 of Bill:  A commercial vehicle used to transport passengers or property that (1) has a gross weight rating of over 10,000 pounds or more, (2) is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, or (3) is a placarded vehicle transporting hazardous materials is subject to Washington State Patrol (WSP) safety inspections and is required to stop at a weigh station when open.  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.  A recreational vehicle used for non-commercial purposes and a vehicle hauling a horse trailer for a noncommercial purpose are not required to stop at a scale house.  The WSP policy that a bus is not required to stop at a weigh station when the "Trucks Stop at Scales" sign is posted is made statutory.

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

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill clarifies who must stop at public scale houses and submit to weighing.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Captain Tim Erickson, Washington State Patrol.