WA People
BILL · 2021–22 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1709

HB 1709: Tow truck safety

Addressing safety measures for tow truck operators and vehicles.

Summary

  • Allows emergency tow trucks at the scene of an accident to use rear-facing blue lights in addition to an intermittent or revolving red light.
  • Allows emergency tow trucks to operate an intermittent or revolving red light when on the way to the scene and when, due to the emergency or accident, the speed of traffic has been reduced to 35 miles per hour (mph) or less.
  • Allows emergency tow trucks to operate an intermittent or revolving red light when leaving the scene of an emergency or accident while accelerating to 10 mph below the posted speed limit.
  • Requires any driver on a road with a speed limit of 60 mph or more approaching any emergency or work zone who are unable to move away or change lanes to reduce speed to 50 mph or lower.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SHB 1709), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed House, stalled in Senate
  1. IntroducedJan 10, 2022
  2. Out of committeeFeb 3, 2022
  3. Passed HouseFeb 12, 2022
  4. Passed Senatestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Ed Orcutt (R-20)
Introduced
January 10, 2022 in the House
Last action
March 10, 2022
Companion bill
SB 5635
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1709, SHB 1709, 2SHB 1709

AN ACT Relating to safety measures for tow truck operators and vehicles;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Ed Orcutt (R-20)

4 co-sponsors (3 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Sharon Wylie D-49Larry Springer D-45Dan Griffey R-35Mari Leavitt D-28

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 12, 2022
Version voted on: SHB 1709
89 Yea 8 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat54300
Republican35501
How each member voted

Yea (89)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading. (SHB 1709)
  2. First reading, referred to Transportation. (SHB 1709)
  3. Third reading, passed; yeas, 89; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SHB 1709)
  4. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1709)
  5. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SHB 1709)
  6. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  7. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 1709)
  8. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  9. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1709)
  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  11. TR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1709)
  12. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 1709)
  13. TR - Executive action taken by committee.
  14. Minority; without recommendation.
  15. TR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  16. First reading, referred to Transportation.
  17. Prefiled for introduction.

HB 1709 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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