Title: An act relating to state conformity with federal safety standards for mopeds.

Brief Description: Providing state conformity with federal safety standards for mopeds.

Sponsors: Senators Weinstein, Sheldon and Haugen; by request of Washington State Patrol.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 01/16/06, 1/16/06 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6546 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Benson, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Berkey, Eide, Esser, Finkbeiner, Mulliken, Sheldon, Spanel, Swecker and Weinstein.

Staff: Dory On (786-7321)

Background: A moped is a motorized device equipped with a relatively small electric or fuel motor that is capable of propelling the device at not more than thirty miles per hour on level ground. Under current Washington law, the definition of moped includes specifications for wheel size and pedal requirements. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) contain no specifications regarding moped wheel size and pedals.

Modern mopeds are being manufactured with specifications that meet federal requirements, but do not meet the wheel size and pedal requirements of Washington law.

The state patrol may approve of and define as a "moped" a vehicle which fails to meet the specific criteria under current Washington law, but which is essentially similar in performance and application. The Washington State Patrol Equipment and Standards Section currently makes exceptions for mopeds based upon wheel size and pedals provided that all other requirements are met.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The definition of moped is revised to eliminate wheel size and pedal specifications.

The definition of moped specifies a maximum number of wheels, size of motor, and speed of propulsion.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The bill as referred to committee 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Testimony For: The proposed bill removes outdated language from the code and will eliminate confusion among consumers and moped manufacturers.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Captain Jeff De Vere, Washington State Patrol CON: No one.