BILL REQ. #:  S-0859.1 

Read first time 02/01/13.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to assessing penalties on motor vehicle-related violations in order to support the Washington state strategic highway safety plan; adding a new section to chapter 46.64 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.59 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature recognizes that traffic deaths and serious injuries related to impaired driving and speeding are preventable and cause a public safety problem in Washington state. Such crashes have a significant bearing on overall law enforcement and court caseloads. The legislature further recognizes the growing costs associated with traffic safety education, enforcement, and advocacy programs established by local governments and community-based organizations.
     (2) It is the legislature's intent to establish a penalty that will hold convicted motor vehicle offenders accountable and help to offset the costs of effective city, county, or community programs created to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries consistent with the priorities set in the Washington state strategic highway safety plan: Target Zero.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.64 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) All superior courts, and courts organized under Title 3 or 35 RCW, must impose a penalty assessment of one hundred dollars on any person who is convicted for a violation of RCW 46.20.342, 46.20.750, 46.52.010, 46.52.020, 46.61.024, 46.61.500, 46.61.502, 46.61.503, 46.61.520, 46.61.522, 46.61.5249, or 46.61.530. The penalty assessment is in addition to, and does not supersede, any other penalty, restitution, fines, or costs provided by law. The court may not reduce, waive, or suspend the penalty assessment unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
     (2) The penalty assessment must be forwarded to the state treasurer and deposited into the target zero account created under section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.59 RCW to read as follows:
     The target zero account is created in the state treasury. All penalty assessments collected under section 2 of this act must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account must be used by the Washington traffic safety commission to fund effective strategies and programs consistent with the priorities specified in the Washington state strategic highway safety plan: Target Zero.