SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5148

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 8, 1993

Brief Description:  Adjusting penalties for improper use of disabled parking spaces.

SPONSORS: Senator Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5148 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Barr, Drew, Haugen, Nelson, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Sheldon, von Reichbauer, and Winsley.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304)

Hearing Dates: January 28, 1993; February 8, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Currently, parking illegally in a disabled parking space may result in a fine between $15 and $50.  Approximately one-third of the amount of the fine collected is eventually deposited in the state public safety and education account; approximately two-thirds is retained by the city treasury and deposited according to the local jurisdiction's law.

SUMMARY:

A $50 fine for parking illegally in a disabled parking space is established.  Local jurisdictions must use their portion of this fine exclusively for law enforcement.  Courts are permitted to impose additional penalties sufficient to reimburse the local jurisdiction for any costs it may have incurred while removing and storing illegally parked vehicles.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Local jurisdictions providing on-street parking places reserved for physically disabled persons may impose by ordinance time restrictions on the use of these parking places.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Local jurisdictions need the authority to eliminate the flagrant misuse of parking spaces for the physically disabled by those unlawfully possessing physically disabled persons' placards.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 MTESTIFIED:  Senator Winsley, prime sponsor; Nancy Wuerth, Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (pro); Gordon Walgren, City of Bremerton (pro); Louis Mentor, City of Bremerton (pro); Deborah McCurley, Department of Licensing (pro)