HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5034

BYSenators Garrett and Stratton

Updating the Model Traffic Ordinance.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Betrozoff, Brough, Cantwell, Cooper, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Kremen, Meyers, Prince, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Todd, Vekich, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 30, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Model Traffic Ordinance (MTO), enacted in 1975, is a listing of all state traffic laws applicable to a municipality.  The Model can be adopted by reference by any city or county to serve as its local traffic ordinance.  A local authority may adopt the MTO in full or in part, and may at any time exclude any section(s) it does not wish to include in its local laws.  Each year the Model is updated to incorporate legislative enactments from the previous year relating to traffic and motor vehicle laws that affect a municipality.

Including these statutes by reference allows cities, towns and counties which have adopted the Model Traffic Ordinance to enforce these laws without having to enact separate ordinances for each change.  If a municipality desires to implement a new traffic law prior to the Legislature passing an updated MTO, it must enact its own local ordinance compatible with the state law.

SUMMARY:

The Model Traffic Ordinance is updated to include the 1985 mandatory seat belt law.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.