HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5138
As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to vehicles exempt from stopping at weighing stations.
Brief Description: Increasing the weight of vehicles exempted from scale stops.
Sponsors: Senators Morton, Hochstatter, Benton, Oke, Stevens, McCaslin, Honeyford, Swecker, Sheahan, Johnson, Zarelli, Hale and Rossi.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/20/02, 3/4/02 [DPA].
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Brief Summary of Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
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$Tow trucks without a tow regardless of weight and farm vehicles hauling farm produce that weigh up to 26,000 pounds are not required to stop at weigh stations operated by the Washington State Patrol.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 22 members: Representatives Fisher, Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Ericksen, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Holmquist, Jackley, Jarrett, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sullivan, Wood and Woods.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Cooper, Vice Chair; Anderson and Mielke.
Staff: Penny Nerup (786‑7335).
Background:
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) currently has a total of 52 stationary scale facilities located throughout the state. Five of the stationary scales are Ports of Entry, which are strategically located on major interstate routes that are entry points for trucks into Washington. These Ports of Entry are operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are staffed by commercial vehicle enforcement officers (CVEOs) and commercial vehicle officers (CVOs) that perform weighing and inspections of trucks.
The 47 interior scales are operated on an intermittent basis. Regular hours are not kept at these scales so as not to establish a pattern of when the scales are open. In addition, there are not sufficient personnel to staff all the interior scales all of the time.
Currently, all trucks or truck combinations with a gross vehicle weight rating of 16,000 pounds or less do not have to stop at weigh stations. Buses, recreational vehicles used for noncommercial purposes, and vehicles towing a horse trailer for noncommercial purposes are also not required to stop at the scales.
All trucks carrying hazardous materials, regardless of weight, are required to stop at weigh stations.
Summary of Amended Bill:
Commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or combination weight of 26,000 pounds or less are not required to stop at stationary scale facilities operated by the WSP. Trucks carrying hazardous materials, regardless of weight, are required to stop at weigh stations.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The weight limit for trucks that may fail to stop at an open weigh station is restored to 16,000 pounds except that tow trucks without a tow, regardless of weight, and farm vehicles carrying farm produce that weigh 26,000 pounds or less are not required to stop at open weigh stations.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Idaho and Oregon have raised their limit to 26,000 pounds and this would provide consistency for commercial vehicles traveling across our neighboring states.
(Concerns) Since September 11-, security has become a major concern of the state patrol. Most commercial vehicles that pose a security risk are in the 16,000 to 26,000 pound category and we would like to be able to inspect those vehicles.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: (In Support) Senator Morton, prime sponsor.
(Concerns) Captain Glenn Cramer and Captain Fred Fakkema, Washington State Patrol.