HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5148

                       As Passed House

                        April 5, 1993

Title:  An act relating to penalties for improper use of parking spaces for disabled persons.

Brief Description:  Adjusting penalties for improper use of disabled parking spaces.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Winsley).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 22, 1993, DP;

Passed House, April 5, 1993, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; Miller; H. Myers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304).

Background:  Currently, parking illegally in a disabled parking space may result in a fine between $15 and $50.  Approximately one-third of the amount of the fine collected is eventually deposited in the state public safety and education account; approximately two-thirds is retained by the city treasury and deposited according to the local jurisdiction's law.

Summary of Bill:  A $50 fine for parking illegally in a disabled parking space is established.  Local jurisdictions must use their portion of this fine exclusively for law enforcement.  Courts are permitted to impose additional penalties sufficient to reimburse the local jurisdiction for any costs it may have incurred while removing and storing illegally parked vehicles.

Local jurisdictions providing on-street parking places reserved for physically disabled persons may impose by ordinance time restrictions on the use of these parking places.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The increase in the penalty for improper use of parking spaces for disabled persons will give law enforcement agencies an incentive to issue tickets for violations.  Also, local jurisdictions need more flexibility in their enforcement of the disabled persons parking law.  Permitting local jurisdictions to impose by ordinance time restrictions on the use of these parking places will provide that flexibility.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Shirley Winsley, prime sponsor; Toby Olson, Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment; and Mayor Louis Mentor, city of Bremerton.