Title: An act relating to the use of automated traffic safety cameras in state highway work zones.

Brief Description: Authorizing the use of automated traffic safety cameras in state highway work zones.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Mulliken, Berkey, Oke, Weinstein, Poulsen and Eide; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/25/06, 2/1/06 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6526 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Benson, Ranking Minority Member; Eide, Oke, Sheldon, Spanel, Swecker and Weinstein.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Benton, Esser and Finkbeiner.

Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

Background: Under current law, local governments may use "automated traffic safety cameras" (cameras) subject to the following conditions: (1) an ordinance must first be enacted by the local legislative authority allowing their use to detect only stoplight, railroad crossing, or school speed zone violations and setting forth public notice and signage provisions; (2) use of the cameras is
restricted to two-arterial intersections, railroad crossings, and school speed zones only; (3) pictures may only be taken of vehicles and vehicle license plates and only while an infraction is occurring, and must not reveal driver or passenger faces; (4) all locations where a camera is used must be clearly marked by signs indicating the presence of a camera zone; (5) infraction notices must be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within 14 days of the infraction, and may be responded to by mail; and (6) infractions detected through the use of cameras are not part of the registered owner's driving record.

The registered owner of a vehicle is responsible for an infraction detected by an automated traffic safety camera unless the owner states under oath that the vehicle involved was, at the time, stolen or in the care, custody, or control of another person.

Infractions detected through the use of cameras must be processed in the same manner as parking infractions.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The automated traffic safety camera law is expanded to include authorizing the Washington State Patrol to use cameras to detect infractions in roadway construction zones on state highways when workers are present. The penalty for an infraction detected by a camera in a roadway construction zone is set at $137.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The bill as referred to committee was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: The Washington State Department of Transportation has long had traffic safety as a priority of the agency. The use of traffic safety cameras in work zones will help ensure traffic safety. Traffic cameras do change driving behavior.

Testimony Against: None.

Testimony Other: Traffic infractions detected through the use of cameras should be processed consistently throughout the state if possible.

Who Testified: PRO: Jennifer Ziegler & Scott Zeller, WA State Department of Transportation; Mel Sorensen, Property Casualty Insurers Assoc.; Steve Lind, WA Traffic Safety Commission; Jeff DeVere, WA State Patrol.

OTHER: Jeff Hall, Board for Judicial Administration.