SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2518

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 22, 1996

Title:  An act relating to penalties for speed infractions in school or playground zones.

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

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/22/96 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

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

Staff:  Jeff Doyle (786-7322)

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 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 of Amended Bill:  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, which is to be a non-appropriated account for the first three years, until the account has a history of revenues and expenditures.  The Traffic Safety Commission provides these funds to local communities to improve school zone safety.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The school zone safety account is allowed to be a non-appropriated account for the first three years, until the account has a history of revenues and expenditures.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  There are not enough police officers to be able to enforce speeding laws in school zones.  These areas pose special dangers because children are present.  In Yakima County, recent road widening has resulting in additional speeds near schools.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Rep. Shinner, prime sponsor; Shelly McAndrews, Apple Valley PTA; Laura Tom, Apple Valley student; Jennifer Eato, Apply Valley student; Jeff Ketcham, Apple Valley student; Andrew Smith, Apple Valley student; Lisa Armon, Apple Valley student; Barbara Mertens, WA Assn. of School Administrators; Steve Lind, Traffic Safety Commission; Dave Peach, WSDOT; Alice Campbell, Apple Valley PTA.