Title: An act relating to recreational vehicle logos on highway sign panels.

Brief Description: Authorizing RV logos on highway sign panels.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Honeyford and Sheldon).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/31/05, 2/7/05 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/25/05, 42-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5013 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke and Spanel.

Staff: Hayley Gamble (786-7452)

Background: Current state law requires Motorist Information Signs to display the words "Gas Food Lodging or Tourist Activities". Louisiana, and Oregon on a trial basis, have added an 'RV' symbol to their motorist information signs to indicate if a business on the sign is recreational vehicle accessible. There are currently approximately 79,000 recreational vehicles (motor homes) licensed in Washington State. Due to their size, recreational vehicles require additional space that is not always provided by businesses listed on motorist information signs.

Summary of Bill: Motorist information sign panels must include the letters 'RV' if a business or destination can accommodate recreational vehicles. The letters 'RV' must be black and located in a small yellow circle. The circle must be placed in the lower right corner of the business sign that accommodates recreational vehicles. The Department of Transportation (DOT) must not include the 'RV' logo unless DOT determines that a business or destination accommodates recreational vehicles, and the business or destination requests the 'RV' logo. DOT may adopt rules to administer this addition to the motorist information sign program, including charging a reasonable fee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: RV logos on motorist information signs would make traveling on highways an easier experience for recreational vehicle users, making stops more convenient. This bill would also help recreational vehicles return to the freeway as a turning space would be provided in destinations displaying the RV logo. An appropriate fee would be charged to make the RV logos a revenue neutral addition to the motorist information sign program.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Honeyford, prime sponsor; Gummada Murthy, WSDOT; Ron Bender, citizen.