SB 5610-S.E - DIGEST

(AS OF SENATE 2ND READING 3/14/01)

     Declares that the use of traffic safety cameras is subject to the following regulations:

     (1) The appropriate legislative authority must enact an ordinance allowing for their use to detect one or more of the following:  Stoplight or railroad crossing violations.

     (2) Traffic safety cameras may take pictures of the vehicle and the vehicle license plate only.

     (3) The jurisdiction must develop a public notification program for areas in which traffic safety cameras will be used.  Under their respective jurisdictions, the law enforcement agency or the department of transportation shall plainly mark the locations where the traffic safety cameras are used by placing signs on street locations that clearly indicate to a driver that he or she is entering a zone where traffic laws are enforced by traffic safety cameras.

     (4) A notice of traffic infraction must be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within fourteen days of the infraction occurring.

     (5) A person receiving a notice of traffic infraction based on evidence detected by a traffic safety camera may respond to the notice by mail.

     Provides that infractions detected through the use of traffic safety cameras will be recorded as are stopping, standing, or parking violations under RCW 46.61.560, but are not part of the registered owner's driving record under RCW 46.52.101 and 46.52.120.

     Declares that the legislature respectfully requests the Washington state supreme court to amend the Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction to conform to this act.  Furthermore, the legislature respectfully asks the court to create a notice of traffic infraction that is consistent with this act.