FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5274

                           C 20 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing a regional transit authority to establish fines for certain civil infractions.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Goings, Horn, Haugen, Costa, Winsley, Heavey, McCaslin, Long and Prentice).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background:  Regional transit authorities in Washington currently lack express statutory authority to enforce proof of fare payment of those individuals using transit services.  Washington law does allow state and local governments to establish and enforce a system of civil infractions to be composed of minor offenses, noncriminal in nature, subject to the imposition of civil fines.

Summary:  Regional transit authorities are authorized to:  (1) require proof of fare payment; (2) set a schedule of fines and penalties, not to exceed $250, for failure to pay required fares and failure to depart a train when requested to do so; and (3) employ individuals to monitor fare payment, issue citations for fare nonpayment, and request passengers to leave regional transit authority trains for failure to produce proof of fare payment.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 40 6

House     92 0

Effective:  July 25, 1999