Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 1152

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates a voluntary program whereby an individual with a disability or impairment that may affect interactions with medical or law enforcement personnel can obtain a notification sticker for placement on his or her vehicle.

Background:

The National Institute of Mental Health currently estimates that approximately 60 million American adults have a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Of this population, slightly under one quarter, or approximately 6 percent of all American adults, are estimated to have a serious mental illness. Mental disorders are currently the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals between the ages of 15 and 44.

In 2007, the Washington State Patrol Field Operations Bureau initiated 1,269,135 traffic stops across the state, with approximately 41 percent of those interactions resulting in the issuance of some form of traffic citation. By way of example on the local level, the Seattle Police Department initiated 62,901 traffic stops in 2006 while the Vancouver Police Department initiated 38,838 in 2007.

Summary of Bill:

The Director of the Department of Licensing (DOL) is required, for a fee to be determined by the DOL, to provide a notification sticker to any person who applies and has a disability or impairment that might affect interactions with medical or law enforcement personnel. The notification sticker must be yellow, contain the international symbol of access and the words "Not a Parking Permit," and be designed to be displayed either on the windshield or license plate of the vehicle depending on the determination of the DOL.

The fee charged for the issuance of the notification sticker must be sufficient to cover the cost of the sticker program, and is in addition to any other fees and taxes associated with the registration of a vehicle. It is a traffic infraction with a penalty of $250 for a person to obtain a notification sticker in any manner other than through the DOL.