1 AN ACT Relating to the operation of motorcycles between lanes of 2 traffic or vehicles; and amending RCW 46.61.608. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: 4 Sec. 1. RCW 46.61.608 and 1975 c 62 s 46 are each amended to read 5 as follows: 6 (1) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor 7 vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle 8 of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to 9 motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane. 10 (2) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the 11 same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken, except as permitted 12 in subsection (3) of this section. 13 (3) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic 14 or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles, unless (a) the average 15 speed of traffic at any time is substantially slower than the posted 16 speed limit for the roadway, (b) there are two or more lanes of traffic 17 for vehicles proceeding in the same direction at that time, and (c) a 18 reasonable and prudent operator of a motorcycle would consider it safe p. 1 HB 2160 1 to operate a motorcycle no more than ten miles per hour over the 2 average speed of traffic at that time between the lanes of traffic. 3 As used in this subsection, "substantially slower" means a speed 4 that is half or less than half of the posted speed limit. 5 (4) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a 6 single lane. 7 (5) The restrictions imposed by subsections (2) and (3) of this 8 section shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their 9 official duties.
Oh, and HB 2160? That's Health and Wellness stuff....someone is confused on teh intarwebz..... http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2160&year=2009 Concerning health carrier payment of wellness incentives. Go to documents... History of Bill as of Saturday, June 11, 2011 4:58 PM Sponsors: Representatives Driscoll, Hinkle, Cody, Bailey, Kelley, Wood, Morrell By Request: Governor Gregoire Companion Bill: SB 5998 2009 REGULAR SESSION Feb 11 First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. (View Original Bill) Feb 19 Public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM. (Committee Materials) Feb 20 Executive action taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM. (Committee Materials) HCW - Executive action taken by committee. HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (View 1st Substitute) (Majority Report) Feb 23 Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. Mar 4 Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. Mar 6 1st substitute bill substituted (HCW 09). (View 1st Substitute) Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (View Roll Calls) IN THE SENATE Mar 10 First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. Mar 23 Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 1:30 PM. Mar 25 Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM. Mar 26 HEA - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (Majority Report) Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. Mar 31 Committee amendment adopted with no other amendments. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (View Roll Calls) IN THE HOUSE Apr 20 House concurred in Senate amendments. Passed final passage; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3. (View Roll Calls) Apr 21 Speaker signed. IN THE SENATE Apr 22 President signed. OTHER THAN LEGISLATIVE ACTION Apr 23 Delivered to Governor. (View Bill as Passed Legislature) May 4 Governor signed. Chapter 329, 2009 Laws. (View Session Law) May 6 Effective date 7/26/2009.
"(3) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic 14 or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles, unless (a) the average 15 speed of traffic at any time is substantially slower than the posted 16 speed limit for the roadway, (b) there are two or more lanes of traffic 17 for vehicles proceeding in the same direction at that time, and (c) a 18 reasonable and prudent operator of a motorcycle would consider it safe p. 1 HB 2160 1 to operate a motorcycle no more than ten miles per hour over the 2 average speed of traffic at that time between the lanes of traffic. 3 As used in this subsection, "substantially slower" means a speed 4 that is half or less than half of the posted speed limit. 5 (4) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a 6 single lane. 7 (5) The restrictions imposed by subsections (2) and (3) of this 8 section shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their 9 official duties." The bill was introduced and got a hearing in the house in 2007. That is as far as it went. The conversation has continued in Olympia, but nothing concrete, as in legislation, has been done in the last four years.
The best thing you can do is contact all three of your state legislators and get to know them. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx That way, if you don't just get in their grill but actually gain their trust, you can educate them as to where we sit on the issue and how it affects us. There are still people out there who are engaged and working the issue.