SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6359

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Transportation, February 4, 2002

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

Brief Description:  Penalizing failure to use required traction equipment.

Sponsors:  Senators Stevens, Haugen, Rossi and Benton.

Brief History:

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

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 Substitute Bill:  Failure to use required traction equipment is reclassified as a traffic infraction with a penalty of $500, including statutory assessments.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill was not considered.

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.