Question: Is there a Washington state law that covers how many gas cans someone can carry in their car and where they need to be carried?
Answer: There are laws that specify what an approved gas container is, but I don't know of any that limit how many you may carry or where you are allowed to carry them. I prefer to carry them in a well-ventilated area to minimize the explosion factor from concentrated gas fumes that you may have in enclosed cars, car trunks or vans.
Q: How many feet before one makes a turn should a driver signal so with their indicator; common practice indicates it's about 10 feet.
A: State law says you need to activate a turn signal approximately 100 feet prior to the turn. RCW 46.61.305 (2) A signal of intention to turn or move right or left when required shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.
Q: When pulling a trailer with a car or pickup, is the speed limit the one posted for autos or the truck speed limit? California is very specific that anything pulling a trailer follows the limit posted for trucks. Washington and Oregon do not specify when to use the truck limit. Is there a gross weight that kicks in for the truck speed limit?
A: RCW 46.61.410 (2) The maximum speed limit for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross weight and vehicles in combination except auto stages shall not exceed 60 mph and may be established at a lower limit by the secretary as provided in RCW 46.61.405.
So if you are licensed over 10,000 pounds or driving a combination defined in RCW 46.04.130 as every combination of motor vehicle and motor vehicle (motorhome or car or truck towing a car or truck), motor vehicle and trailer or motor vehicle and semitrailer, you must follow the posted speed limit for trucks.
An "auto stage," for those unfamiliar with the term, is a bus like Greyhound or the Airporter Shuttle.
For all of us that believed the truck limit applied only to commercial vehicles, we were mistaken.
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DAVID WRIGHT is a retired officer from the Bellingham Police Department who is now on the Whatcom County Traffic Safety Task Force.
