Title: An act relating to public transportation fares.

Brief Description: Concerning public transportation fares.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Clibborn, McIntire and Simpson).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/14/08, 84-10.

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/20/08, 2/26/08 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Marr, Vice Chair; Murray, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Holmquist, Jacobsen, Kastama, Kauffman, Kilmer, King, Pflug, Sheldon and Spanel.

Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

Background: Regional transit authorities (e.g., Sound Transit) are specifically authorized to monitor fare payment and to issue civil infractions for, among other things, failure to provide proof of payment upon request of transit authority personnel. However, other local transit agencies do not have specific authority to monitor public transportation service fare payment or to issue civil infractions to passengers who fail to provide proof of fare payment.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Amendments): Metropolitan municipal corporations (Metros), public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs), and city-owned transit systems are specifically authorized to monitor fare payment and to issue civil infractions for, among other things, failure to provide proof of payment upon request of transit agency personnel.

Metros, PTBAs, and city-owned transit systems are authorized to designate persons to monitor fare payment, and to establish a schedule of civil fines and penalties for civil infractions related to fare payment violations. A civil infraction not to exceed $250 may be issued to passengers who fail to pay the fare; fail to provide proof of payment when requested to do so by a person designated to monitor fare payment; or refuse to leave the bus when asked by a person designated to monitor fare payment.

Persons designated to monitor fare payment are authorized to request proof of payment from passengers; request proof of personal identification from passengers who fail to provide proof of payment; request that a passenger leave the bus when proof of payment is not provided; and issue a civil citation to passengers consistent with the established schedule of fines.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE (Recommended Amendments): Clarifies that the bill provides additional powers or authority to supplement existing law, and does not limit existing powers or authority granted to any public agency.

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.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed Substitute Bill: PRO: Community Transit wishes to move passengers by providing high-capacity transportation service, specifically bus rapid transit. This bill with help expedite the fare payment process while providing this service.

OTHER: King and Pierce Counties have concerns that this bill would impede their existing fare payment procedures, specifically as they relate to prosecuting criminal charges. They ask to be removed from the bill.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Davor Gjurasic, Community Transit.

OTHER: Dave Jutilla, METRO Transit Police; Rod Baker, Pierce Transit Deptartment of Public Safety; Rick Sepolen, ATU Local 587.