Brief Description: Doubling the amount of monetary penalties for traffic infractions on high accident corridors.

Sponsors: Representatives Pearson, O'Brien, Ericks, Fromhold, Ross, Sells and Moeller.

Hearing Date: 2/12/07

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

A high accident corridor is defined by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as a section of a state highway that has experienced a higher than average rate of severe collisions during the previous five years. In making this determination, the WSDOT looks at collisions per mile, severity points per mile, and severity points per collision per mile, and compares the corridor's score in each to the statewide average. A corridor that scores higher than average in each category is a high accident corridor.

There are currently three state highways; State Routes 2, 5, and 101; that have 40 or more miles of high accident corridors as defined by the WSDOT.

Summary of Bill:

The monetary penalty is doubled for any traffic infraction committed on a state highway with at least 40 miles of high accident corridors as designated by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The revenue generated by the doubling of the monetary penalty is distributed in the following fashion:

• 60 percent of the revenue is dedicated to safety improvements along state highways with at least 40 miles of high accident corridors;
• 30 percent of the revenue is distributed to the Washington Tranffic Safety Commission for safety education regarding state highways with at least 40 miles of high accident corridors; and
• 10 percent of the revenue is distributed to the county prosecutors of the counties where the traffic infraction occurred for additional court costs.

The act expires 2 years after the effective date of the act.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 9, 2007.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.