H-1338              _______________________________________________

                                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 23

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representative Sutherland)

Read first time 1/30/87 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to green lights on private cars of emergency medical personnel; and amending RCW 46.37.185 and 46.37.186.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 46.37.185, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 3, chapter 92, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. and RCW 46.37.185 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((Firemen)) Fire fighters and emergency medical personnel, when approved by the chief of their respective ((service)) fire district or fire department, shall be authorized to use a green light on the front of their private cars when on emergency duty only.  Such green light shall be visible for a distance of two hundred feet under normal atmospheric conditions and shall be of a type and mounting approved by the commission on equipment.  The use of the green light shall only be for the purpose of identification and the operator of a vehicle so equipped shall not be entitled to any of the privileges provided in RCW 46.61.035 for the operators of authorized emergency vehicles.

        Sec. 2.  Section 46.37.186, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 and RCW 46.37.186 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) No private vehicle((,)) bearing a sign or plate indicating a fire department, fire district, or emergency medical connection((,)) shall be driven or operated on any public highway((,)) except when the owner thereof is a bona fide member of a fire department or emergency medical service.

          (2) Any sign or plate indicating fire department or emergency medical connection on a private car of any member of a fire department, fire district, or emergency medical service shall include the name of the municipality ((or)), fire department, fire district, or emergency medical organization to which the owner belongs.