HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 431

BYRepresentatives Ferguson, P. King, Holland, Heavey, Scott, Ebersole, Patrick, Haugen, Walk, Ballard, Sanders, May, J. Williams, Schmidt, Walker, Betrozoff, Amondson and Miller

Exempting emergency vehicles from restrictions on television receivers and headphones.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (23)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Dellwo, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Kremen, Meyers, Patrick, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Todd, J. Williams and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 25, 1987

BACKGROUND:

When operating a motor vehicle upon a public highway, the driver is prohibited from:

(1) Having a television screen or viewer forward of the driver's seat or anywhere it is visible to the driver; and

(2) Wearing a headset or earphones capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a tape that muffles other sounds.

Because the excessive noise created by fire truck diesel engines and sirens exceed the decibel readings permitted by the Department of Labor & Industries, the use of ear protection has been mandated.  This makes it impossible for the driver and responding personnel to hear the radio transmissions.  Allowing the driver of an emergency vehicle to use radio headsets preserves the hearing, while at the same time clarifies transmissions from the dispatch center.

In other areas of the country the use of computer terminals visible to the driver of an emergency vehicle is allowed.  The City of Bellevue's Police and Fire Departments would like to install computer terminals in their vehicles and are asking that authorized emergency vehicles be exempt from the prohibited use of television screens.

SUMMARY:

An authorized emergency vehicle equipped with a television screen visible to the driver may be driven upon a public highway.  The driver of the vehicle may wear a radio headset or earphones when operating upon a public highway.  (An authorized emergency vehicle is defined as any vehicle of a fire department, sheriff's office, coroner, prosecuting attorney, Washington State Patrol, public or private ambulance service, or any other vehicle authorized by the Commission on Equipment.)

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Representative Ferguson; Otto Jensen, Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The change will improve both audio and visual communications between fire truck personnel and central dispatch.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.