BILL REQ. #:  S-4164.1 

Read first time 01/27/2004.   Referred to Committee on Highways & Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to enforcing the requirement to stop for a stopped school bus; amending RCW 46.61.370; adding a new section to chapter 43.59 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.61.370 and 1997 c 80 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The driver of a vehicle upon overtaking or meeting from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus when there is in operation on said school bus a visual signal as specified in RCW 46.37.190 and said driver shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer activated.
     (2) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway divided into separate roadways as provided in RCW 46.61.150 need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.
     (3) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway with three or more marked traffic lanes need not stop upon meeting a school bus which is proceeding in the opposite direction and is stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.
     (4) The driver of a school bus shall actuate the visual signals required by RCW 46.37.190 only when such bus is stopped on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children.
     (5) The driver of a school bus may stop completely off the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children only when the school children do not have to cross the roadway. The school bus driver shall actuate the hazard warning lamps as defined in RCW 46.37.215 before loading or unloading school children at such stops.
     (6) A person found to have committed an infraction of subsection (1) of this section shall be assessed a monetary penalty ((equal to twice the total penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110)) of one thousand dollars. This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended. Fifty percent of the money so collected shall be deposited into the school zone safety account in the custody of the state treasurer and disbursed in accordance with RCW 46.61.440(((3))) (4).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.59 RCW to read as follows:
     The Washington traffic safety commission shall provide grants to local law enforcement agencies for increased efforts in enforcement of the requirement for drivers to stop for school buses when so indicated under RCW 46.61.370.
     The commission shall also produce and disseminate through all possible media, informational and educational materials explaining the extent of the problems caused by failure to stop for school buses, the need for public involvement in their solution, and the penalties of existing and new laws against failure to stop for school buses.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of section 2 of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2004, in the transportation appropriations act, section 2 of this act is null and void.