SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1503

                             AS OF MARCH 27, 1991

Brief Description:  Providing for enforcement of safety belt requirements.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representative Appelwick).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786‑7304)

Hearing Dates:April 2, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Every person over age 16 operating a motor vehicle and every person riding in a motor vehicle must wear a safety belt.  Failure to wear a safety belt constitutes a traffic infraction, subject to a monetary penalty, currently at $25, as set by Supreme Court rule.  Law enforcement officers can enforce this law only as a secondary action when a driver has been detained for a suspected motor vehicle violation or other offense.

SUMMARY:

The provision limiting enforcement of the safety belt law to secondary action is removed, thus making the failure to wear a safety belt a primary traffic infraction.

Law enforcement officers are prohibited from using the safety belt law as a pretext for harassment.  No person may be harassed through enforcement of the safety belt law based on a perception of the person's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.  A person who is harassed may recover actual damages plus attorney fees and up to $10,000 in punitive damages.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested