SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESHB 1634

           AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 2, 1992

Brief Description:  Adjusting fines for improper parking in a disabled space.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Winsley, Appelwick, Forner, Padden, Vance, Miller, D. Sommers, Tate, Wood, Wynne, Horn, Bowman, Neher, Holland, Moyer, Casada, Mitchell, Paris, Chandler, Ferguson, Betrozoff, Lisk, G. Cole, Scott, R. Johnson, Kremen, Riley, Ballard and Anderson)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; Erwin, W. Hansen, Madsen, McMullen, Oke, Skratek, Snyder, Thorsness, and Vognild.

Staff:  Roger Horn (786‑7839)

Hearing Dates: February 27, 1992; March 2, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Persons with certain serious physical disabilities may receive special parking privileges from the Department of Licensing.  The special privileges may be evidenced by special license plates, cards or decals.

In both public and private parking areas, certain parking places are reserved for persons with these special parking privileges.  It is a traffic infraction with a penalty of between $15 and $50 for an unauthorized person to park in a place reserved for physically disabled persons.

Fines imposed for infractions are subject to surcharges totaling 90 percent of the fine.  The fine and surcharge are split between the local jurisdiction imposing the infraction and the state's public safety and education account (PSEA).  With a basic fine of $50, for example, the offender would pay $95, of which $40.60 goes to PSEA and $54.40 stays with the local jurisdiction.

SUMMARY:

The fine for unauthorized parking in a place reserved for disabled persons is set at $50.  That portion of the fine that is retained by the local jurisdiction must be used for law enforcement.  Additional penalties may be imposed to cover the costs of removal and storage of improperly parked vehicles.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The amendment authorizes local jurisdictions to impose time restrictions on the use of on-street disabled parking spaces.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill reflects recommendations of the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment.  It will help reduce the number of people who park illegally in parking spaces reserved for disabled persons.  The amendment would prevent people from parking all day in disabled spaces that should be available for many people to use.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Rep. Shirley Winsley (prime sponsor); Jim Jones, Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (pro); Gordon Walgren, City of Bremerton (pro with amendment); Louis Mentor, City of Bremerton (pro with amendment)