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AN ACT Relating to traffic infraction penalties to be used for police reserve officer retirement systems; and amending RCW 46.63.110, 3.62.020, 3.62.040, 3.50.100, and 3.46.120.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 46.63.110 and 1993 c 501 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty. No penalty may exceed two hundred and fifty dollars for each offense unless authorized by this chapter or title.

(2)(a) The supreme court shall prescribe by rule a schedule of monetary penalties for designated traffic infractions. This rule shall also specify the conditions under which local courts may exercise discretion in assessing fines and penalties for traffic infractions. The legislature respectfully requests the supreme court to adjust this schedule every two years for inflation.

(b) A local legislative body that has established a retirement program for reserve law enforcement officers may set a monetary penalty of not more than two dollars for each traffic infraction to be used exclusively for funding the retirement program.

(3) There shall be a penalty of twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction except where the infraction relates to parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution or failure to pay a monetary penalty imposed pursuant to this chapter. A local legislative body may set a monetary penalty not to exceed twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction relating to parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution. The local court, whether a municipal, police, or district court, shall impose the monetary penalty set by the local legislative body.

(4) Monetary penalties provided for in chapter 46.70 RCW which are civil in nature and penalties which may be assessed for violations of chapter 46.44 RCW relating to size, weight, and load of motor vehicles are not subject to the limitation on the amount of monetary penalties which may be imposed pursuant to this chapter.

(5) Whenever a monetary penalty is imposed by a court under this chapter it is immediately payable. If the person is unable to pay at that time the court may, in its discretion, grant an extension of the period in which the penalty may be paid. If the penalty is not paid on or before the time established for payment the court shall notify the department of the failure to pay the penalty, and the department shall suspend the person's driver's license or driving privilege until the penalty has been paid and the penalty provided in subsection (3) of this section has been paid.

Sec. 2. RCW 3.62.020 and 1988 c 169 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, all costs, fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties assessed and collected in whole or in part by district courts, except costs, fines, forfeitures and penalties assessed and collected, in whole or in part, because of the violation of city ordinances, shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court to the county treasurer at least monthly, together with a financial statement as required by the division of municipal corporations, noting the information necessary for crediting of such funds as required by law.

(2) The county treasurer shall remit thirty-two percent of the money received under subsection (1) of this section except certain costs to the state treasurer. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state or county in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer shall be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250.

(3) The balance of the money received by the county treasurer under subsection (1) of this section shall be deposited in the county current expense fund.

(4)(a) All money collected for county parking infractions shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court at least monthly, with the information required under subsection (1) of this section, to the county treasurer for deposit in the county current expense fund.

(b) All money collected as the result of a penalty imposed by a county pursuant to RCW 46.63.110(2) for the purpose of funding a reserve law enforcement officer retirement program shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court at least monthly, with the information required under subsection (1) of this section, to the county treasurer for deposit in a separate fund created by the county to be used exclusively for funding the retirement program.

Sec. 3. RCW 3.62.040 and 1988 c 169 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, all costs, fines, forfeitures and penalties assessed and collected, in whole or in part, by district courts because of violations of city ordinances shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court at least monthly directly to the treasurer of the city wherein the violation occurred.

(2) The city treasurer shall remit monthly thirty-two percent of the money received under this section, other than for parking infractions and certain costs, to the state treasurer. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state, county, city, or town in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer shall be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250.

(3) The balance of the money received under this section shall be retained by the city and deposited as provided by law.

(4)(a) All money collected for city parking infractions shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court at least monthly to the city treasurer for deposit in the city's general fund.

(b) All money collected as the result of a penalty imposed by a city pursuant to RCW 46.63.110(2) for the purpose of funding a reserve law enforcement officer retirement program shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court at least monthly to the city treasurer for deposit in a separate fund created by the city to be used exclusively for funding the retirement program.

Sec. 4. RCW 3.50.100 and 1988 c 169 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Costs in civil and criminal actions may be imposed as provided in district court. All fees, costs, fines, forfeitures and other money imposed by any municipal court for the violation of any municipal or town ordinances shall be collected by the court clerk and, together with any other revenues received by the clerk, shall be deposited with the city or town treasurer as a part of the general fund of the city or town, or deposited in such other fund of the city or town, or deposited in such other funds as may be designated by the laws of the state of Washington.

(2) The city treasurer shall remit monthly thirty-two percent of the money received under this section, other than money collected as the result of a penalty imposed pursuant to RCW 46.63.110(2) for the purpose of funding a reserve law enforcement officer retirement program or money collected for parking infractions, and certain costs to the state treasurer. "Certain costs" as used in this subsection, means those costs awarded to prevailing parties in civil actions under RCW 4.84.010 or 36.18.040, or those costs awarded against convicted defendants in criminal actions under RCW 10.01.160, 10.46.190, or 36.18.040, or other similar statutes if such costs are specifically designated as costs by the court and are awarded for the specific reimbursement of costs incurred by the state, county, city, or town in the prosecution of the case, including the fees of defense counsel. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer shall be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250.

(3) The balance of the money received under this section shall be retained by the city and deposited as provided by law.

Sec. 5. RCW 3.46.120 and 1988 c 169 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All money received by the clerk of a municipal department including penalties, fines, bail forfeitures, fees and costs shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer.

(3) The balance of the money received under this section shall be retained by the city and deposited as provided by law.