HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5377

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title:  An act relating to marking the gross weight on certain vehicles.

Brief Description:  Marking the gross weight on certain vehicles.

Sponsors:  By Senators Gardner, Horn and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  3/29/01 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

$The statute that requires motor trucks, truck tractors, and tractors to paint their maximum gross weight or combined gross weight on the outside of the vehicle is repealed.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 24 members: Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mitchell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; Ahern, Anderson, Armstrong, G. Chandler, Edmonds, Hatfield, Jackley, Jarrett, Marine, Mielke, Morell, Ogden, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sump and Woods.

Staff:  Penny Nerup (786‑7335).

Background:

All motor trucks, truck tractors, and tractors with a licensed gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds are required to have the maximum gross weight or combined gross weight for which the vehicle is licensed painted on the outside of the vehicle in a conspicuous place in letters not less than two inches high.  The owner or operator of these vehicles cannot display a maximum gross weight or combined gross weight that is other than that shown on the current certificate of license registration of the vehicle.

Concern has been raised that this provision has outlived its usefulness because the certificate of license registration of the vehicle contains the information that is used by law enforcement, not the gross weight painted on the outside of the vehicle.

Summary of  Bill:

The statute that requires motor trucks, truck tractors, and tractors to paint their maximum gross weight or combined gross weight on the outside of the vehicle is repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  The weight painted on the outside of these vehicles is not indicative of the actual weight.  When the Washington State Patrol checks weight, they look at the paperwork, not the markings on the outside of the vehicle.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Larry Pursley, Washington Trucking Association.