SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1460

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Transportation, March 4, 2002

Title:  An act relating to enforcement of safety belt laws.

Brief Description:  Enforcing seat belt laws as a primary action.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lovick, Jarrett, Hurst, Jackley, Cooper, Fisher, Edmonds, Morell, Ahern, Ogden, Simpson, O'Brien, Darneille, Kagi and Ruderman.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/28/02, 3/4/02 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Jacobsen, Kastama, Keiser, Prentice, Shin and Swecker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Benton, Finkbeiner, Horn, McAuliffe and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Dean Carlson (786‑7305)

Background:  Failure to comply with the seat belt laws of this state results in a traffic infraction.  However, under current law, law enforcement can only enforce the seat belt laws as a secondary action when a driver has been stopped for another violation.

Summary of Bill:  Violation of seat belt laws is enforced as a primary action.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The purpose of this bill is not to generate more citations.  Primary enforcement would save about 40 lives per year.  One-half to 2/3 of those that died in a car crash, and were not wearing a seat belt, would have survived if they had their seat belt on.  The 18 percent of people that do not wear a seat belt are involved in over 50 percent of the crashes.  A primary seat belt law would save people $40 per year for each vehicle they have insured.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  John Lovick, prime sponsor (pro); Steve Lind, Traffic Safety Commission (pro); Mary Selecky, Secretary, Department of Health (pro);  Captain Brian Ursino, WSP (pro); Sid Morrison, National Safety Council (pro); Tony Orange, Committee on African American Affairs (pro).