FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2518

                         C 114 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Doubling the fine for speeding in school or playground zones.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Skinner, Blanton, Radcliff, Hankins, Delvin, Dickerson, Mitchell, Morris, Silver and Chandler).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:  Current law does not distinguish between speeding in school zones and speeding anywhere else on the road.  The base fines for exceeding the speed limit where the limit is less than 40 miles per hour (mph) are as follows:  1-5 mph over limit, $30; 6-10 mph over limit, $35; 11-15 mph over limit, $50; 16-20 mph over limit, $70; 21-25 mph over limit, $95; 26-30 mph over limit, $120; 31-35 mph over limit, $145; and 35+ mph over limit, $175.

It is a traffic infraction for a driver to disobey a school patrol.  The fine is $80.

In 1994 the Legislature enacted laws to protect highway construction or maintenance workers by doubling the traffic fines for speeding in construction zones.

Summary:  Traffic fines are doubled for persons guilty of speeding in school or playground zones.  These fines may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.  The increase in fines is deposited in a new account, the school zone safety account.  The Traffic Safety Commission will provide these funds to local communities to improve school zone safety.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     97 0

Senate    46 1 (Senate amended)

House     94 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  March 20, 1996