HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5572

As Passed House:

April 5, 2001

Title:  An act relating to permissible highway signs.

Brief Description:  Authorizing Crime Stoppers signs in view of specified highway systems.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder, Winsley and Oke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  3/27/01, 3/28/01 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/5/01, 97-0.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Authorizes ?crime stoppers@ signs to be visible from state or interstate highways.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mitchell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; Ahern, Anderson, Armstrong, Edmonds, Haigh, Hatfield, Hurst, Jarrett, Marine, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sump, Wood and Woods.

Staff:  Paul Neal (786‑7315).

Background:

The scenic vistas act, chapter 47.42 RCW, strictly limits the type of signs which may be displayed so as to be visible on state or interstate highways.

Crime stoppers is a non-governmental organization dedicated to helping public agencies apprehend criminals by use of a phone number which people may use to call and report knowledge of crimes.  Members of local communities, in partnership with the media and law enforcement, work to provide crime-solving assistance to law enforcement.

Crime stoppers signs are sometimes posted on city streets or county roads, but do not qualify for display such that they are visible from state or interstate highways.

Summary of  Bill:

Signs with the ?Crime stoppers@ name, logo, and telephone number are added to the types of signs that can be displayed beside the road under the Scenic Vistas Act, RCW 47.42.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Posting crime stoppers signs at the entrance to local communities will deter crime at no cost to the state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ron Conlin, Crime Stoppers Association of Washington; and Toby Rickman, Department of Transportation.