SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5936

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, January 28, 2004

Title: An act relating to penalties for improper use of high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Brief Description: Prescribing penalties for improper HOV lane use.

Sponsors: Senator Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 1/22/04, 1/28/04 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5936 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Oke, Poulsen and Spanel.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

      Signed by Senators Mulliken and Murray.

Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)

Background: Penalties for violations related to high-occupancy vehicle lane restrictions are subject to a schedule of monetary penalties prescribed by rule by the Supreme Court. This violation is an unscheduled traffic infraction subject to a base penalty of $37. Additional assessments bring the total cost to offenders to $101.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Penalties for violations related to high-occupancy vehicle lane restrictions are subject to a $100 penalty in addition to all other existing penalties and assessments. The High-Occupancy Vehicle Lane Enforcement and Education Account is created. Half of the additional penalty goes to the new account; the other half goes into the motor vehicle account.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 21, 2004.

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

Testimony For: Increasing the penalty for HOV lane restriction violations will help enforce the current law. HOV lanes are key elements to the reliability of transit. So much has been invested in direct-access facilities, it needs to be protected.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: George Kargianis, Washington State Transportation Commission; Tim Kelly, Sound Transit; Rick Olson, Puget Sound Regional Council; Captain Cramer, Washington State Patrol.