HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5579

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to tires on farm machinery.

Brief Description:  Allowing solid rubber tires on farm machinery.

Sponsors:  Senators Loveland, Honeyford and Hale.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  3/29/99, 4/1/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Farm machinery equipped with solid rubber tracks may be moved along a highway without a special permit.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co-Chair; K. Schmidt, Republican Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic 1st Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Buck; G. Chandler; DeBolt; Fortunato; Haigh; Hatfield; Hurst; Lovick; McDonald; Mitchell; Morris; Murray; Ogden; Pflug; Radcliff; Romero; Schindler; Schual-Berke; Skinner and Wood.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:

Any vehicle operating on a public highway must be equipped with pneumatic rubber tires (filled with compressed air), except when equipped with temporary spare tires that meet federal standards.  Farm machinery with pneumatic tires and protuberances that do not damage the roadway may be moved along a state highway without a permit.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) may issue special permits for the movement of vehicles with movable tracks, farm tractors, and farm equipment.

Farm equipment is currently being manufactured that is equipped with solid rubber tire tracks. These tracks place less pounds per square inch on the surface than conditional tires, thereby improving the weight distribution of the vehicle.

Summary of Bill:

Farm machinery equipped with solid rubber tracks may be moved along a state highway without a special permit as long as the tracks do not damage the highway.  If DOT determines that the solid rubber tracks are damaging the highway, the department may prohibit their use under current law.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Because these tracks place less pounds per square inch on the surface, pavement damage will be minimized.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Captain Eric Robertson, Washington State Patrol.