SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5572

As Passed Senate, March 10, 2001

Title:  An act relating to permissible highway signs.

Brief Description:  Authorizing Crime Stoppers signs in view of specified highway systems.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder, Winsley and Oke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/7/01, 2/19/01 [DPS].

Passed Senate:  3/10/01, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5572 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, McAuliffe, Oke, Prentice, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Strus (786‑7484)

Background:  Crimestoppers is a non-governmental organization dedicated to helping public agencies apprehend criminals by use of a phone number which people may use to call and report knowledge of crimes.  Members of local communities, in partnership with the media and law enforcement, work to provide crime-solving assistance to law enforcement.

Summary of Bill:  Signs with the ?Crimestoppers@ name, logo and telephone number are added to the types of signs that can be displayed beside the road under the Scenic Vistas Act, RCW 47.42.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Crimestoppers has good statistics for solving crimes.  The challenge is keeping Crimestoppers in the public eye.  Signs off major highways would be beneficial to assist with this challenge.

Testimony Against:  WSDOT has no authority to enter private property to maintain signs.

Testified:  Ron Conlin, Crimestoppers (pro); Glade Austin, Crimestoppers of Lewis County (pro); Vic Persol, Crimestoppers of Puget Sound (pro); Toby Rickman, State Traffic Engineer, WSDOT (concerns).