FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1937

C 141 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Excluding power wheelchairs from motor vehicle regulation.

Sponsors: By Representatives Murray, Holmquist, Romero and Hankins.

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation

Background:

Operators of non-motorized wheelchairs are regulated as pedestrians. It is unclear, however, whether operators of power wheelchairs are also subject to regulation as pedestrians or whether these motorized devices are subject to regulation as motor vehicles.

Summary:

"Power wheelchair" is defined as a self-propelled vehicle capable of traveling no more than 15 miles per hour, usable indoors, and designed as a mobility aid operated by an individual with mobility impairments. Statutory definitions of motor vehicles, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and vehicles are revised to exclude power wheelchairs, and the definition of pedestrian is revised to include any person using a power wheelchair. No driver's license is required to operate a power wheelchair.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 96  0

Senate 46  0    (Senate amended)

House 97  0    (House concurred)

Effective: July 27, 2003