BILL REQ. #:  H-3659.1 

Prefiled 1/5/2004. Read first time 01/12/2004.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to payment of traffic infraction and misdemeanor penalties; and amending RCW 46.63.110 and 46.64.025.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.63.110 and 2003 c 380 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty. No penalty may exceed two hundred and fifty dollars for each offense unless authorized by this chapter or title.
     (2) The monetary penalty for a violation of RCW 46.55.105(2) is two hundred fifty dollars for each offense. No penalty assessed under this subsection (2) may be reduced.
     (3) The supreme court shall prescribe by rule a schedule of monetary penalties for designated traffic infractions. This rule shall also specify the conditions under which local courts may exercise discretion in assessing fines and penalties for traffic infractions. The legislature respectfully requests the supreme court to adjust this schedule every two years for inflation.
     (4) There shall be a penalty of twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction except where the infraction relates to parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution or failure to pay a monetary penalty imposed pursuant to this chapter. A local legislative body may set a monetary penalty not to exceed twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction relating to parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution. The local court, whether a municipal, police, or district court, shall impose the monetary penalty set by the local legislative body.
     (5) Monetary penalties provided for in chapter 46.70 RCW which are civil in nature and penalties which may be assessed for violations of chapter 46.44 RCW relating to size, weight, and load of motor vehicles are not subject to the limitation on the amount of monetary penalties which may be imposed pursuant to this chapter.
     (6) Whenever a monetary penalty is imposed by a court under this chapter it is immediately payable. If the person is unable to pay at that time the court may, in its discretion, grant an extension of the period in which the penalty may be paid. If ((the penalty is not paid on or before the time established for payment)) a person is not able to pay a monetary penalty in full, the court shall enter into a payment plan with the person. "Payment plan," as used in this section, means a plan that requires a person to pay an initial payment of not less than five percent of the total owed, followed by reasonable payments in an amount established by the court. The initial payment amount required by the court may be no greater than thirty dollars, but the person may voluntarily pay a higher amount. No required payment may exceed ten percent of the original amount owed; however, the person may voluntarily pay any amount at any time in addition to these payments.
     (a) If a payment required to be made under the payment plan is delinquent by thirty days, the court shall notify the department of the failure to pay the penalty, and the department shall suspend the person's driver's license or driving privilege until the penalty has been paid ((and)), including the penalty provided in subsection (4) of this section ((has been paid)).
     (b) If a person has not entered into a payment plan with the court and has not paid the penalty in full on or before the time established for payment, the court shall notify the department of the delinquency, and the department shall suspend the person's driver's license or driving privilege until the penalty has been paid, including the penalty provided in subsection (3) of this section, or until the person has entered into a payment plan under this section and has paid the initial payment.
     (c) If a community service program for offenders is available in the jurisdiction, the court shall offer to convert all or part of the monetary penalties due under this subsection (5) to community service if the person is unable to make reasonable time payments.
     (7) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this section and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this section, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed a fee of five dollars per infraction. Under no circumstances shall this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the emergency medical services and trauma care system trust account under RCW 70.168.040.
     (8)(a) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this section and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this section, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction other than of RCW 46.61.527 shall be assessed an additional penalty of twenty dollars. The court may not reduce, waive, or suspend the additional penalty unless the court finds the offender to be indigent. If a community restitution program for offenders is available in the jurisdiction, the court shall allow offenders to offset all or a part of the penalty due under this subsection (8) by participation in the community restitution program.
     (b) Eight dollars and fifty cents of the additional penalty under (a) of this subsection shall be remitted to the state treasurer. The remaining revenue from the additional penalty must be remitted under chapters 2.08, 3.46, 3.50, 3.62, 10.82, and 35.20 RCW. Money remitted under this subsection to the state treasurer must be deposited as provided in RCW 43.08.250. The balance of the revenue received by the county or city treasurer under this subsection must be deposited into the county or city current expense fund. Moneys retained by the city or county under this subsection shall constitute reimbursement for any liabilities under RCW 43.135.060.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.64.025 and 1999 c 86 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Whenever any person violates his or her written promise to appear in court, ((or)) fails to appear for a scheduled court hearing, or fails to comply with the terms of a citation, the court in which the defendant failed to appear or comply shall promptly give notice of such fact to the department of licensing. Whenever thereafter the case in which the defendant failed to appear or comply is adjudicated, the court hearing the case shall promptly file with the department a certificate showing that the case has been adjudicated.
     (2) Where compliance with the terms of a misdemeanor citation is limited to the payment of a monetary penalty, and a person is not able to pay the monetary penalty in full, the court shall enter into a payment plan with the person. "Payment plan," as used in this section, means a plan that requires a person to pay an initial payment of not less than five percent of the total owed, followed by reasonable payments in an amount established by the court. No required payment may exceed ten percent of the original amount owed. The person may voluntarily pay any amount at any time in addition to these payments. If a person has entered into a payment plan under this subsection, the court shall not notify the department of licensing that the person has failed to comply with the terms of a citation as it applies to payment of the monetary penalty unless a payment required to be made under the payment plan is delinquent by thirty days.