HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1872

BYRepresentatives Heavey, Prince, Valle, Brough, Anderson, R. Meyers, Walker, Haugen, Rasmussen, Ebersole, Bristow, Scott, Fraser, Patrick, Raiter, Ballard, Hine, Phillips, G. Fisher, K. Wilson, Day, Winsley, Prentice, D. Sommers, Leonard, Zellinsky, Todd and Wood

Allowing counties, cities and towns to regulate hitchhiking in some situations.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair, Baugher, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, R. Fisher, Gallagher, Haugen, Heavey, Jones, Kremen, R. Meyers, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, Smith, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Louise Bray (786-7322)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, hitchhiking offenses are traffic infractions carrying a monetary penalty only.  The state has preempted local governments from regulating hitchhiking.

Some local governmental representatives feel that giving local government the power to ban hitchhiking in areas of known prostitution would assist in controlling the prostitution problem.

SUMMARY:

Counties, cities or towns may regulate or prohibit hitchhiking in areas of known prostitution, as determined by the local government, after a determination that such regulation will help to reduce prostitution in the area.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Greg Nickels, King County Council; Joe Zimmerman, King County Police; Sgt. Martin Joy, King County Police.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This bill will assist local law enforcement in curbing prostitution.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.