SENATE BILL REPORT

                  EHB 1461

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Transportation, March 30, 1995

Title:  An act relating to motor vehicle accident property damage reporting threshold amounts.

Brief Description:  Increasing motor vehicle damage threshold amounts.

Sponsors:  Representatives Benton, R. Fisher, Horn, Romero, Chopp, Chandler, Boldt and Robertson; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/22/95, 3/30/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Fairley, Haugen, Kohl, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar and Wood.

Staff:  Jeff Doyle (786-7322)

Background:  Persons who are involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in death or injury to another, or where the amount of damage to property exceeds $500, are required to file an accident report within 24 hours of the accident.

If any person involved in the accident does not have the minimum liability insurance required by state law, he or she is required to post a security deposit in an amount sufficient to satisfy any judgments that could be rendered against the uninsured.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The accident reporting damage threshold is raised to $1,000.  The amount of security deposit required from uninsured motorists remains $500.  Drivers causing property damage now have five days to file an accident report.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The accident reporting threshold is raised from $700 to $1,000.  Drivers have five days rather than 24 hours to report accidents.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1995.

Testimony For:  Any minor fender bender nowadays can cost $500, thus triggering the traffic accident report and security deposit requirements of the financial responsibility law.  This alone costs the state money in investigating the accident and processing the paper.  The threshold should be raised to $1,000.  This bill will save the Department of Licensing $60,000 per biennium, and will ease reporting requirements on drivers involved in accidents.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rep. Benton, prime sponsor.