SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5653

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Authorizes motorcycles to park at an angle on any highway so long as it does not extend into the roadway.
Allows more than one motorcycle to be parked per parking space so long as the motorcycles do not exceed the boundaries of the parking space.
Provides local jurisdictions the authority to prohibit angled parking of motorcycles if the jurisdiction passes an ordinance and posts visible signage in the area where the prohibition applies.

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Hobbs, Chair; Saldaña, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Cleveland, Das, Fortunato, Lovelett, Nguyen, O'Ban, Padden, Randall, Takko, Wilson, C. and Zeiger.

Background: Generally, vehicles on a two-way roadway must be parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to, and within 12 inches of, the right-hand curb or right-hand shoulder of the road. Vehicles on a one-way roadway, unless provided otherwise by a local ordinance, must be parked parallel to, and within 12 inches of, either the right hand or left hand curb or shoulder of the road.

Local governments may allow angle parking on any roadway, however if the roadway is a federal-aid or state highway, the secretary of Transportation must have determined that the roadway is wide enough to permit angle parking without interfering with free movement of traffic.

Summary of Bill: When parking is allowed, motorcycles may park parallel or at an angle to the curb or edge of a highway with at least one wheel or fender within 12 inches of the curb or shoulder nearest to which the motorcycle is parked.

A local jurisdiction may prohibit the angled stopping or parking of motorcycles on a one-way or two-way highway if the local jurisdiction passes an ordinance to that effect, so long as the local jurisdiction posts visible signage at any location to which the prohibition applies.

More than one motorcycle may occupy a parking space, provided that the motorcycles in the parking space remain within the boundaries of that parking space.

The requirement that the secretary of Transportation first make a determination that a state highway or federal aid highway is wide enough to allow for free movement of traffic before motorcycles can park angled on the edge of such a highway is removed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill just puts in law the way motorcyclists have always parked. Some municipalities have looked at the laws on parking and started strictly enforcing the provisions that require any vehicle to park parallel to the curb and only one vehicle per space. People are getting big parking tickets—this is ridiculous. You can fit a number of motorcycles in one parking space when parked at an angle. Why would you waste the space by requiring parallel parking. Parking spaces are at a premium in so many cities. This just makes sense. This allows us to back into a spot like we are taught to do in motorcycle safety classes.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Phil Fortunato, Prime Sponsor; Alan Alder, A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments of Washington; Brian Lange, A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments of Washington.