rS-3688.1 _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5995

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Senators Skratek, Erwin, Vognild, Drew, Winsley, Sheldon, Pelz, Nelson, McAuliffe and M. Rasmussen

Read first time 01/10/94.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Penalizing reckless endangerment of highway workers.

    AN ACT Relating to reckless endangerment of highway workers; adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 46.61 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A person who drives a vehicle in a highway construction or maintenance area in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of workers in the construction or maintenance area is guilty of reckless endangerment of highway workers.  A violation of this section is a class C felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

    (2) The department shall suspend for not less than sixty days the license or permit to drive or a nonresident driving privilege of a person convicted of reckless endangerment of highway workers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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