HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5735

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title:  An act relating to motorcycle taillights.

Brief Description:  Allowing motorcycles to have blue dot taillights.

Sponsors:  Senators Gardner, Roach, Haugen, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Stevens, Deccio, Rossi, Zarelli, Benton, Horn, T. Sheldon, Sheahan, Spanel, Shin, Finkbeiner, Hargrove, West, Long and Franklin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/11/02, 3/4/02 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

$Authorizes motorcycles to have a blue insert on the taillight.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Fisher, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Ericksen, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Holmquist, Jackley, Jarrett, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sullivan, Wood and Woods.

Staff:  Reema Griffith (786‑7301).

Background:

Under current law all lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle must reflect a red color.  For vehicles 40 years old or older, the taillight may also contain a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter.

This blue insert or "dot" was provided for in law, back in 1992, to enhance the brightness of the light emitted from the smaller style taillights which are typically equipped on antique and classic cars 40 years old and older.

Summary of Bill:

Any motorcycle, regardless of age, is authorized to have a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter on the taillight.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This legislation will enable motorcyclists to legally apply the blue dot which will increase their visibility on the roadway.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Richard Bright,  ABATE of Washington; and Argie Martin, Cowlitz County ABATE.