SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5672

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.

As of February 15, 2017

Title: An act relating to the enforcement of parking rules and regulations and adjudication of parking infractions on the state capitol grounds.

Brief Description: Concerning the enforcement of parking rules and regulations and adjudication of parking infractions on the state capitol grounds.

Sponsors: Senator Hunt; by request of Department of Enterprise Services.

Committee Activity: State Government: 2/15/17.

Brief Summary of Bill

Authorizes the Department of Enterprise Services to enforce rules and regulations related to parking on state capitol grounds, and collect and retain any penalties that the director establishes.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Staff: Melissa Van Gorkom (786-7491)

Background: Department of Enterprise Services (DES). DES maintains more than 6000 parking stalls on the capitol campus located in 28 locations, providing employee, visitor, and vendor/service access. DES may promulgate rules and regulation for the control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and the parking of motor vehicles on the state capitol grounds.

Parking Enforcement. Ticketing of capitol campus parking violations is the responsibility of the Washington State Patrol. If parking rules are violated, a fine may be assessed by the municipal court. Under DES rules, individuals receiving more than three notices of traffic infractions within 12 months may have their vehicle impounded and/or towed and parking privileges may be lost.

Parking Strategy Implementation Plan (Plan). In 2015, the Legislature required that DES develop an implementation plan for a capitol campus parking strategy. The Plan identified parking enforcement as critical to the success of managing parking on campus. According to the Plan, DES has begun initial conversation with the City of Olympia on receiving a future proposal for parking enforcement. The Plan provides draft enforcement services and performance standards developed for the City of Olympia which include the following:

a phased approach that would provide for robust enforcement initially to encourage compliance and decrease frequency once a high level of compliance is attained;
increased enforcement during legislative session when parking usage is highest;
provide hourly sweeps of visitor parking and have employee parking areas checked two to four times a day; and
use license plate recognition technology systems to integrate with new pay stations at visitor lots and detection equipment planned for East Plaza Garage.

Summary of Bill: DES is granted authority, in addition to the Washington State Patrol, to enforce such rules and regulations related to parking on the state capitol grounds.

DES may collect and retain any parking penalties that the director establishes. Parking penalties collected under the DES rules must be deposited into the State Vehicle Parking account.

DES may provide for internal adjudication of matters involving parking infractions that the director establishes. A person charged with a parking infraction by DES must use the internal adjudication process before seeking review in district court.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This provision does not change existing rules for parking enforcement, it adds authorization for DES to staff a parking program within the agency. WSP is doing a good job with the time that they have assisting with parking, but from a resource perspective they are stretched thin and their time is often consumed with other activities on campus. This is modeled after campus parking enforcement provided by universities to dedicate an individual to parking enforcement. The intent is to change behavior through such things as enforcement and automatic license readers to help with payment and enforcement of violators. This would improve the employee and visitor experiences on the campus and help address ongoing challenges for parking.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Sam Hunt, Prime Sponsor; Tomy Mollas, Department of Enterprise Services (DES); Bob Covington, DES.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.