FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1554

                         C 206 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Clarifying status of HOV lane violations as traffic infractions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Murray, McDonald, Constantine, Mitchell, Dickerson, Ballasiotes, Scott, Radcliff, Poulsen and Romero; by request of Washington State Patrol.

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

District courts have ruled that reserving portions of highways for High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes is unenforceable, because the law does not provide for enforcement action by police officers.  The law was written to give authority to the Department of Transportation and local authorities to build, designate, or sign highway lanes as high occupancy use only.  Wording must be added to the statute to allow law enforcement agencies to properly enforce these lane restrictions.

Summary:

It is a traffic infraction to use HOV lanes in violation of restrictions placed on the use of such lanes by the proper authority.

Votes on Final Passage:

House8710

Senate336

Effective:July 25, 1999