CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6248

Chapter 264, Laws of 2002

57th Legislature

2002 Regular Session

COOPER JONES LICENSE PLATE EMBLEMS--BICYCLE SAFETY

EFFECTIVE DATE: 6/13/02

Passed by the Senate March 11, 2002

YEAS 41 NAYS 1

BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

Passed by the House March 7, 2002

YEAS 93 NAYS 0

CERTIFICATE

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6248 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the

House of Representatives

TONY M. COOK

Secretary

Approved March 29, 2002

FILED

March 29, 2002 - 3:59 p.m.

GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

Secretary of State

State of Washington

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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6248

_______________________________________________

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

Passed Legislature - 2002 Regular Session

State of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen, Kohl‑Welles and Kline)

READ FIRST TIME 02/04/2002.

AN ACT Relating to funding bicycle and pedestrian safety; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.16 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that bicycling and walking are becoming increasingly popular in Washington as clean and efficient modes of transportation, as recreational activities, and as organized sports. Future plans for the state's transportation system will require increased access and safety for bicycles and pedestrians on our common roadways, and federal transportation legislation and funding programs have created strong incentives to implement these changes quickly. As a result, many more people are likely to take up bicycling in Washington both as a leisure activity and as a convenient, inexpensive form of transportation. Bicyclists are more vulnerable to injury and accident than motorists, and both should be knowledgeable about traffic laws. Bicyclists should be highly visible and predictable when riding in traffic, and be encouraged to wear bicycle safety helmets. Hundreds of bicyclists and pedestrians are seriously injured every year in accidents, and millions of dollars are spent on health care costs associated with these accidents. There is clear evidence that organized training in the rules and techniques of safe and effective cycling can significantly reduce the incidence of serious injury and accidents, increase cooperation among road users, and significantly increase the incidence of bicycle helmet use, particularly among minors. A reduction in accidents benefits the entire community. Therefore, it is appropriate for businesses and community organizations to provide donations to bicycle and pedestrian safety training programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:

"Cooper Jones Act license plate emblems" means emblems on valid Washington license plates that display the symbol of bicycle safety created in section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

In cooperation with the Washington state patrol and the department of licensing, the traffic safety commission shall create and design, and the department shall issue, Cooper Jones license plate emblems displaying a symbol of bicycle safety that may be used on motor vehicles required to display two motor vehicle license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department. These license plate emblems will fund the Cooper Jones act and provide funding for bicyclist and pedestrian safety education, enforcement, and encouragement.

Any person may purchase Cooper Jones license plate emblems. The emblems are to be displayed on the vehicle license plates in the manner described by the department, existing vehicular licensing procedures, and current laws. The fee for Cooper Jones emblems shall be twenty-five dollars. All moneys collected shall first go to the department to be deposited into the motor vehicle fund until all expenses of designing and producing the emblems are recovered. Thereafter, the department shall deduct an amount not to exceed five dollars of each fee collected for Cooper Jones emblems for administration and collection expenses. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the bicycle and pedestrian safety account as established in RCW 43.59.150.