H-1450              _______________________________________________

                                           HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 4010

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Walk, Gallagher, Baugher, Schmidt, D. Sommers, Patrick, S. Wilson, Fisher, Fisch, Cantwell, Spanel, K. Wilson, Dellwo, Zellinsky, Haugen, C. Smith, Betrozoff, Cooper, Doty and P. King

Read first time 2/6/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1986 made great strides towards outlining future programs to improve the safety of our nation's highways by strengthening commercial motor carrier driver licensing procedures; and

          WHEREAS, The Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation is charged with developing the specific programs established in the Motor Carrier Safety Act to be applied uniformly by the states; and

          WHEREAS, The implementation of the single driver's license concept will be an effective means of limiting the use of multiple driver licenses; and

          WHEREAS, The Motor Carrier Safety Act will create uniformity in driver qualifications by establishing minimum federal standards for commercial vehicle licensing categories; and

          WHEREAS, Minimum federal penalties for felonies and traffic violations committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle will be developed; and

          WHEREAS, The establishment of a national information clearinghouse for driver's qualifications and violations will serve as an effective law enforcement tool; and

          WHEREAS, The accident rate involving heavy trucks will be reduced through the establishment of an appropriate and uniform level for driving under the influence of intoxicating beverages or drugs; and

          WHEREAS, The Motor Carrier Safety Act has the support of the Legislature of the State of Washington, the state's motor carrier regulatory agencies, the commercial motor carrier industry, the organized highway user community, and the insurance industry; and

          WHEREAS, The state of Washington cannot proceed to implement these new programs until specific guidelines are established by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation establish the rule-making guidelines for implementation of the Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1986 as soon as possible, so the State of Washington may strengthen its commercial motor vehicle carrier driver laws and that the guidelines provide that the establishment of an appropriate blood alcohol content for driving under the influence conform to the .10 percent level used in the state of Washington and many other states.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the United States Department of Transportation, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.