SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5284

As Passed Senate, March 16, 2003

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

Brief Description: Penalizing failure to use required traction equipment.

Sponsors: Senators Stevens, Horn, Benton, Haugen, Oke, Swecker, Esser and Mulliken.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/20/03, 3/4/03 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/16/03, 37-11.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

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

Staff: Greg Doss (786-7341)

Background: Under current law, failure to use particular tires, tire chains or traction equipment when advised to do so by the Department of Transportation (DOT) is a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1000, or both.

Summary of Bill: Failure to use required traction equipment is reclassified as a traffic infraction with a fine of $500. Technical amendments are made to update the terminology for road conditions to reflect those actually used by DOT. Different recommendations can be made by DOT or the State Patrol for four-wheel drive vehicles in gear.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 18, 2003.

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

Testimony For: Citizens should be made aware of the dangers of proceeding without required traction equipment. The statutory change would make more citizens aware of the need to comply with life-saving safety standards.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Val Stevens.