SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6505

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

Brief Description:  Providing for public facility transit security.

SPONSORS: Senators M. Rasmussen, Prince, Vognild, Sellar, Winsley and Drew

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6505 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Drew, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Schow, Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Jeff Doyle (786‑7322)

Hearing Dates: January 31, 1994; February 2, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Currently there are no statutes that permit the issuance of an injunction or restraining order against a person who repeatedly obstructs the operation of transit vehicles.

Counties, cities, towns and other municipalities have no express statutory authority to restrict persons from carrying firearms on transit vehicles, in transit stations, or on transit property, although some transit agencies have rules and regulations restricting firearms.

SUMMARY:

It is a public nuisance to obstruct or impede the operation of municipal transit vehicles, or to obstruct or impede access to municipal transit stations.  An action may be brought by the transit agency to enjoin the person creating the nuisance from continuing such behavior.

Persons who (1) obstruct, impede or interfere with the operation of transit vehicles; (2) vandalize transit property; (3) allow their pets to disturb others or to obstruct the flow of passengers on buses; (4) roller skate, skateboard or ride bikes or motorcycles on transit property; (5) sleep, camp or store personal belongings on benches or other property; or (6) sell or distribute goods on transit property are guilty of unlawful bus conduct which is a misdemeanor.

Towns, cities, counties and other municipalities may enact laws that restrict the possession of firearms in, on, or within any transit vehicle or municipal transit station unless the person possessing a firearm has a concealed weapons permit.

A "municipal transit station" means all facilities, structures, lands, interest in lands, air rights over lands, and rights-of-way of all kinds that are owned, leased, held or used by cities, towns, counties and any other municipalities for the purpose of providing public transit, including park and ride lots, transit centers and tunnels, and bus shelters.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The provisions restricting pets, roller skating, skateboarding, riding bicycles, sleeping, and selling goods and services are removed.

Provisions limiting the possession of handguns on transit property are removed.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill enables transit systems to obtain an injunction against persons who repeatedly harass transit drivers.  The injunction would prevent troublemakers from riding the bus.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Ray Frank, METRO; Jeff Benoit, Pierce Transit; Ian McGowan, Pierce Transit; Bob Mack, Spokane Transit; Dan Snow, WA State Transit Assn.