PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amending WAC 204-32-020 Standards for signal lamps, 204-32-040 Mounting and activation of warning devices, and 204-32-060 Warning sign.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.290.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WAC 204-32-020 changes the "state commission on equipment" reference to the "Washington State Patrol."
WAC 204-32-040 and 204-32-060 add: "EXCEPTION: Buses that do not stop upon the roadway to load or discharge passengers are exempt from the requirements of this section."
Process for Developing New Rule: The private bus operators requested the change as many private buses do not load or discharge passengers on public roadways.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Ms. Carol Morton, Washington State Patrol, P.O. Box 42635, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 412-8934, fax (360) 493-9090.
April 13, 1999
Annette M. Sandberg
Chief
OTS-2956.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 7001, filed 6/10/70, effective 7/15/70)
WAC 204-32-020
Standards for signal lamps.
The signal lamps required on private
carrier buses shall be constructed in conformance with the society of automotive engineers
standard for "school bus red signal lamps," in effect at the time of manufacture of such lamps. All lamps used as signal lamps shall be of a type approved by the ((state commission on
equipment)) Washington state patrol.
[Order 7001, § 204-32-020, filed 6/10/70, effective 7/15/70.]
(1) Stop signal
(a) The stop signal shall be mounted on the left side of the bus just below the window line and adjacent to the driver of the bus.
(b) The stop signal shall be hinged at the front edge of the sign.
(c) The stop signal shall be manually controlled by the driver of the bus and shall be so constructed as to lock in an extended position perpendicular to the side of the bus and to also lock in the closed position parallel to the side of the bus.
(2) Signal lamps
(a) The signal lamps shall be mounted on the front and rear of the bus, above the windows, as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable but in no case shall the lateral spacing of these lamps be less than 40 inches.
(b) Signal lamps shall be mounted so that the vision of front signals to the front and rear signals to the rear shall be unobstructed by any part of the vehicle from 5 degrees above to 10 degrees below the horizontal and from 30 degrees to the right to 30 degrees to the left of the center line of the bus.
(c) The switch which activates the signal lamps shall be actuated by movement of the stop signal to the extended position.
(d) There shall be no switch between the signal lamps and the switch which activates these lamps when the stop signal is extended.
(e) There shall be a flashing red indicator lamp on the instrument panel of the vehicle which will indicate to the driver that the signal lamps are operating.
(f) The signal lamps shall operate through a flasher unit which will cause the front signal lamps to flash alternately and the rear signal lamps to flash alternately at a rate no slower than 60 nor faster than 120 times per minute. The "on" period of the flasher shall be long enough to permit the bulb filament to come up to a full brightness.
(g) Signal lamps shall be aimed 2 inches below level at 25 feet and straight ahead. An aiming tolerance of from 3 inches up to 7 inches down and 10 inches right or left will be allowed.
| EXCEPTION: | Buses that do not stop upon the roadway to load or discharge passengers are exempt from the requirements of this section. |
[Order 7001, § 204-32-040, filed 6/10/70, effective 7/15/70.]
Every private carrier bus shall be equipped with a sign on the rear of the bus which shall bear the words "unlawful to pass bus when red lights flash." The sign shall be 16 inches vertically and 32 inches horizontally. The sign shall have a background of silver retrodirective-reflex reflective sheeting. The lettering shall all be size 3 inch B. Line one shall have the letters "unlawful to" in black. Line two shall have the letters "pass bus when" in black. Line three shall have the letters "red lights flash" in red.
| EXCEPTION: | Buses that do not stop upon the roadway to load or discharge passengers are exempt from the requirements of this section. |
[Order 7001, § 204-32-060, filed 6/10/70, effective 7/15/70.]