S-727                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5112

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Benitz, Hansen, West, Owen, Zimmerman and Bauer

Read first time 1/15/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to green lights on private cars of dive rescue 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 dive rescue personnel, when approved by the chief of their respective service, 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 or dive rescue team connection((, shall)) may  be driven or operated on any public highway((,)) except when the owner thereof is a bona fide member of a fire department or dive rescue team.

          (2) Any sign or plate indicating fire department or dive rescue team connection on a private car of any member of a fire department or dive rescue team shall include the name of the municipality or fire department organization or dive rescue team to which the owner belongs.