S-4589.1                   _______________________________________________

                                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5995

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Skratek, Erwin, Vognild, Drew, Winsley, Sheldon, Pelz, Nelson, McAuliffe and M. Rasmussen)

Read first time 01/31/94.

Penalizing reckless endangerment of highway workers.

          AN ACT Relating to reckless endangerment of highway workers; adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 46.61 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The secretary of transportation shall adopt standards and specifications for the use of traffic control devices in roadway construction zones on state highways.  A roadway construction zone is an area where construction, repair, or maintenance work is being conducted by public employees or private contractors, on or adjacent to any public roadway.

          (2) No person may drive a vehicle in a roadway construction zone at a speed greater than that allowed by traffic control devices.

          (3) A person found to have committed any infraction relating to speed restrictions in a roadway construction zone shall be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110.  This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.

          (4) A person who drives a vehicle in a roadway construction zone in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any persons or property, or who removes, evades, or intentionally strikes a traffic safety or control device is guilty of reckless endangerment of roadway workers.  A violation of this subsection is a class C felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

          (5) The department shall suspend for sixty days the license or permit to drive or a nonresident driving privilege of a person convicted of reckless endangerment of roadway workers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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