New Washington state laws take effect this Sunday and will affect motorcycle riders

Washington State

Although legislators wrapped up their 2019 session and went home three months ago, most of the bills they passed don’t become law until Sunday.

They agreed to hundreds of new laws or changes to existing ones, and a wide variety of rules including ones covering apiarists and partially full wine bottles.

They banned fracking for oil and natural gas, and eliminated the personal exemption that allowed some students to skip the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

They toughened laws for motorcyclists, political ads, dog fighting and their own misbehavior. They provided more help for college students, went a bit lighter on teen sexting and approved a process for people with misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions to have their records wiped clean.

So what about Motorcycles?

Motorcyclists are now required to have liability insurance similar to what the owners of cars and trucks must carry. They can either get a policy with at least $25,000 for the injury or death of another person, or a liability bond. They can be asked for proof of the insurance or bond when stopped by law enforcement, and get a ticket if they don’t have it.

The Legislature also approved some changes to the licensing procedures for motorcyclists, including a $250 fine for driving without a valid motorcycle endorsement on your license. But that law doesn’t kick in until Jan. 1.

Ride safe!

Source: The Daily World