HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5470

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Transportation Policy & Budget

Title:  An act relating to passing school buses.

Brief Description:  Doubling penalties for passing school buses.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rossi, Hargrove, Benton, Sellar, Morton, Winsley, Finkbeiner, Oke, Hochstatter, Long, Swecker, Johnson, Zarelli and Strannigan).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation Policy & Budget:  4/3/97, 4/7/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY & BUDGET

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Mielke, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Blalock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Buck; Cairnes; Chandler; Constantine; DeBolt; Gardner; Hatfield; Johnson; Murray; O'Brien; Ogden; Radcliff; Robertson; Romero; Scott; Skinner; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Jeff Doyle (786-7322).

Background:  The basic fine for the traffic infraction of failing to stop for a school bus that has its red lights on (i.e., discharging or picking up school children) is $80.  There is an additional surcharge for court costs.

Summary of Bill:  The basic fine for the traffic infraction of failing to stop for a school bus that has its red lights on is doubled, to $160.  These fines may not be waived, reduced or suspended.  Fifty percent of this fine ($80) is deposited into the School Zone Safety Account to be used for traffic safety in and around schools, and for student safety in school bus loading and unloading zones.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Too many drivers pass school buses illegally when students are loading or unloading from the bus.  This is a danger, especially to younger children.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Dino Rossi, prime sponsor; Karen Luton, Camas school bus driver; Richard Kelly, North Thurston school bus driver; Helen Burrows, Ellensburg school bus driver; and Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission.