SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1971

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, April 2, 1999

Title:  An act relating to traffic safety.

Brief Description:  Enhancing traffic safety.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives D. Sommers, Wood, Benson, Schindler and Gombosky).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/25/99, 4/2/99 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Sellar, Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  In 1998 the Legislature passed the Cooper Jones Act regarding bicycle and pedestrian safety.  The legislation required the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to form a bicycle and pedestrian safety education committee.

The legislation also required a law enforcement officer to report a driver to the Department of Licensing for a new driver's license test if there was a collision resulting in a fatality or serious injury, the driver was responsible for the collision, and the officer determined the driver was not competent to operate a motor vehicle.

The Department of Licensing must retest a driver reported for a fatality accident and may retest a driver reported for a serious injury accident.

Summary of Amended Bill:  An officer must report a driver to the Department of Licensing if there was a crash resulting in a fatality and the driver was responsible for the crash.

A law enforcement officer must report a driver to the Department of Licensing if there was an accident resulting in a serious injury, the driver was responsible for the accident, and the officer determined the driver was not competent to operate a motor vehicle.  The Department of Licensing must retest drivers reported for serious injury accidents.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission must make periodic reports to the Legislature regarding the progress of the bicycle and pedestrian education program.

Penalties are established for motor carriers without drug testing programs and failure to comply with the federal drug testing program.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The Department of Licensing must retest drivers reported for serious injury accidents.  Penalties are established for motor carriers without drug testing programs.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is essential for ensuring that there are safe motorists on the road.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Sommers, prime sponsor; Steve Lind, Traffic Safety Commission; Michael Temple, Bicycle Alliance of Washington.