Brief Summary of Bill

• Allows electronic toll collection on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

• Allows the Department of Licensing to provide vehicle ownership information to a toll facility operator in order to identify toll evaders.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 29 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Simpson, G., Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Edwards, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Kristiansen, Lovick, Mielke, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Romero, Schindler, Shabro, Sullivan, Wallace, Wood and Woods.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to operate the Tacoma Narrows Bridge utilizing electronic toll collection technology as well as manual toll collection. Using that technology, frequent users of the bridge can keep a transponder in their car that records their use of the toll facility. Electronic toll collection by transponder can either be prepaid or users can receive a monthly toll bill in the mail. The Transportation Commission will be addressing payment specifics as part of setting tolls.

Use of an electronic toll collection system allows traffic to move more freely than a conventional toll booth and can also be used to facilitate enforcement against toll violators. Current law does not contemplate the ability to pay tolls without stopping at a toll booth located at the facility.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) is currently authorized to provide lists of registered and legal owners of vehicles to specified entities for specified purposes. For example, car manufacturers are authorized to obtain lists to assist with factory recalls. A toll facility operator is not authorized to access the DOL vehicle records to identify toll evaders.

Electronic toll collection is allowed on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Recorded images may not be used for any purpose other than toll enforcement. "Electronic toll collection" and "photo monitoring system" are defined under the Public-Private Transportation Initiatives law.

The DOT is directed to create rules for operating and managing toll collection and allow for transponder compatibility between statewide toll facilities (including ferries, public transit agencies). The DOT rules must also allow for an open standard for interoperability with multiple transponder vendors.

Toll facility operators are added to the list of entities to whom the DOL may furnish lists of registered and legal owners in order to identify toll violators.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill is necessary because it provides consistent definitions of electronic toll collection and photo monitoring systems, allows for the use of state-of-the-art technology, and authorizes the release of registered vehicle ownership information to be used only for toll violations.