SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1124

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 21, 1994

Brief Description:  Prohibiting crowding in ferry vehicle lines.

SPONSORS: Representatives Heavey and Zellinsky

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Haugen, Morton, Nelson, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Schow, Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786‑7305)

Hearing Dates:  February 21, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Vehicles using the state ferry system are loaded on a first-come, first-serve basis.  However, in order to encourage more efficient use of the ferry system and to reduce dependency on the single-occupant, private vehicle, preferential loading privileges are granted to certain classes of vehicles, e.g. emergency vehicles, vehicles transporting persons with severe illnesses or disabilities, and public transportation vehicles.

Cars waiting to board a state ferry at a ferry terminal located in a residential neighborhood often leave a space between cars to give residents access to and from their driveways.  Some drivers, who do not qualify for preferential loading privileges, abuse this practice by cutting in front of another vehicle in a queue waiting to board the ferry.

SUMMARY:

A driver of a motor vehicle without preferential loading privileges who moves in front of another vehicle in a queue waiting to board a state ferry is guilty of a traffic infraction.

State and local law enforcement officers in areas served by state ferries have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce this provision.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The creation of a traffic infraction for drivers who cut in front of another vehicle in a queue waiting to board a state ferry will discourage behavior of this nature in the future.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Mike Heavey, prime sponsor