SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6359

As Passed Senate, February 14, 2002

Title:  An act relating to failure to use required traction equipment.

Brief Description:  Penalizing failure to use required traction equipment.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Haugen, Rossi and Benton).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/25/02, 2/4/02 [DPS].

Passed Senate:  2/14/02, 47-2.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6359 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Finkbeiner, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, Keiser, McAuliffe, McDonald, Oke and Prentice.

Staff:  Janice Baumgardt (786‑7319)

Background:  Failure to use required traction equipment is a misdemeanor subject to a term of not more than 90 days, or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Summary of Bill:  Failure to use required traction equipment is reclassified as a traffic infraction with a penalty of $500, including statutory assessments.  Technical changes are made to reflect actual current practice regarding Department of Transportation advisories.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 21, 2002.

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

Testimony For:  Many people are ill‑prepared for the sudden condition changes on the passes.  Increased penalties will encourage people to be prepared.  Stopped commercial vehicles make it hard for snow plows to do their work.  Stopped vehicles cause safety hazards and traffic congestion.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Rick Jensen, Washington State Patrol Troopers; Brian Ziegler, Washington State Department of Transportation.