Title: An act relating to children on motorcycles.

Brief Description: Modifying restrictions on children riding motorcycles.

Sponsors: Senators Regala, Swecker, Haugen, Delvin, Jacobsen, Rasmussen, McAuliffe and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/31/05, 3/2/05 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5420 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Eide, Kastama, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Benson and Mulliken.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Esser.

Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

Background: Under current law, it is unlawful for any person to transport a child under the age of five on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. A violation of this law is a traffic infraction.

Summary of Substitute Bill: A child between the ages of five and twelve may not be transported on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless the child's feet rest firmly on passenger foot rests, and the child is either sufficiently supported by a firmly affixed passenger back rest or is using handgrip mechanisms.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This legislation is needed to ensure that children are safely secured when riding as passengers on motorcycles. An incident occurred where a child on a motorcycle was seen clinging to his father's clothes, while riding down an interstate at high speeds, because the child's feet did not reach the foot pegs. This bill would protect children by requiring their feet to rest on the foot pegs and to be supported by a back rest.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Regala, prime sponsor; Larry Walker, WA Road Riders Assoc.