SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 5937
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Amended by House, April 6, 2007
Title: An act relating to the creation and distribution of funds for additional patrols along high-accident corridors.
Brief Description: Providing for additional patrols along high-accident corridors.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Swecker, Murray and Kauffman).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/19/07, 2/27/07 [DPS, DNP].
Passed Senate: 3/12/07, 46-2.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5937 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Marr, Vice Chair; Murray, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Delvin, Jacobsen, Kastama, Kauffman, Kilmer, Pflug, Sheldon and Spanel.
Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Clements and Holmquist.
Staff: David Ward (786-7341)
Background: The current fee for an abstract of driving record is five dollars. Revenue from the fee is deposited in the Highway Safety Account. Appropriations from the account fund the Department of Licensing's (DOL) Driver's Services Division.
Summary of Substitute Bill: The fee for an abstract of driving record is increased from five dollars to ten dollars. All revenue derived from the incremental increase in the cost of abstracts of driving records is deposited to the State Patrol Highway Account.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on August 1, 2007.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Substitute Bill: PRO: The Commission would like
to see funding authorized for a public education component and eligibility for funds made
available to local law enforcement in cases where the State Patrol is unable to support emphasis
patrols on a given corridor.
OTHER: Similar past emphasis patrol efforts in Pierce County resulted in a dramatic increase
in local court cases. There is a request that funding be made available for additional, local court
related costs and that local courts be notified when a High Accident Corridor emphasis patrol is
about to be undertaken. The Insurance industry appreciates the move away from insurance
surcharges as a funding mechanism for this activity and would characterize the move to abstract
fees as our preferred alternative.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
OTHER: Yvonne Pettus, District and Municipal Court Management Association; Cliff Webster,
American Insurance Association.
House Amendment(s): A technical correction is made that eliminates distribution of half the Department of Licensing service fee to the Washington State Patrol Highway Account.