Brief Description: Modifying photo enforcement of traffic infraction provisions.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Kilmer, Swecker, Haugen and Rockefeller; by request of Board For Judicial Administration).

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: Under current law, refusing to pay a toll at a tolled facility is a traffic infraction. Since the passage of SHB 2475 in 2004, toll violations may be detected through the use of a photo enforcement system. Photo enforcement systems may take recorded images (e.g., photographs) of vehicles and vehicle license plates only. Additionally, infractions detected through the use of photo enforcement systems are not part of registered owners' driving records.

During the 2005 Legislative Session, ESSB 5060 was enacted allowing local governments to use "automated traffic safety cameras" to detect stoplight, railroad crossing, or school speed zone violations. Infractions detected through the use of the cameras must be processed in the same manner as parking infractions.

Summary: The photo enforcement system statute for toll violations is changed to conform with the administrative provisions found in ESSB 5060, enacted in 2005. Toll violations detected through the use of photo enforcement systems must be processed in the same manner as parking infractions and the penalty is set at $40 plus three times the toll. The $40 penalty remains with the local jurisdiction processing the violation, and the "three times the toll" penalty must be deposited into the statewide account in which tolls are deposited for the respective tolling facility.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      39   8
House      65   30

Effective:   July 22, 2007