SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2476

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, March 1, 2004

Title: An act relating to toll collection.

Brief Description: Facilitating vehicle toll collection.

Sponsors: Representative Murray; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/25/04, 3/1/04 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Mulliken, Murray, Oke, Poulsen and Spanel.

Staff: Dean Carlson (786-7305)

Background: 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. 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. A toll facility operator is not authorized to access DOL vehicle records to identify toll evaders.

Summary of Amended Bill: Electronic toll collection is allowed on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. "Electronic toll collection" and "photo monitoring system" are defined under the Public-Private Transportation Initiatives law.

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

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

Photos may be used only for toll enforcement.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: An open standard for interoperability with multiple transponder vendors is created. Photographs may not be used for any other purpose other than toll enforcement.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This provides a consistent definition and allows them to get the information for enforcement. The public only wants to have one transponder for all types of toll and fare paying situations.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: David Pope, WSDOT (pro); Jerry Sheehan, ACLU of Wash. (concerns).