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SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 6248
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AS
AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed
Legislature - 2002 Regular Session
State of Washington
57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By
READ FIRST TIME 02/04/2002.
Funding
bicycle and pedestrian safety.
AN
ACT Relating to funding bicycle and pedestrian safety; adding a new section to
chapter 46.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.16 RCW; and creating a
new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that bicycling and walking are becoming increasingly popular
in Washington as clean and efficient modes of transportation, as recreational
activities, and as organized sports. Future plans for the state's
transportation system will require increased access and safety for bicycles and
pedestrians on our common roadways, and federal transportation legislation and
funding programs have created strong incentives to implement these changes
quickly. As a result, many more people are likely to take up bicycling in
Washington both as a leisure activity and as a convenient, inexpensive form of
transportation. Bicyclists are more vulnerable to injury and accident than
motorists, and both should be knowledgeable about traffic laws. Bicyclists
should be highly visible and predictable when riding in traffic, and be
encouraged to wear bicycle safety helmets. Hundreds of bicyclists and
pedestrians are seriously injured every year in accidents, and millions of
dollars are spent on health care costs associated with these accidents. There
is clear evidence that organized training in the rules and techniques of safe
and effective cycling can significantly reduce the incidence of serious injury
and accidents, increase cooperation among road users, and significantly
increase the incidence of bicycle helmet use, particularly among minors. A
reduction in accidents benefits the entire community. Therefore, it is appropriate
for businesses and community organizations to provide donations to bicycle and
pedestrian safety training programs.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
"Cooper
Jones Act license plate emblems" means emblems on valid Washington license
plates that display the symbol of bicycle safety created in section 3 of this
act.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. A
new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
In
cooperation with the Washington state patrol and the department of licensing,
the traffic safety commission shall create and design, and the department shall
issue, Cooper Jones license plate emblems displaying a symbol of bicycle safety
that may be used on motor vehicles required to display two motor vehicle
license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon
terms and conditions established by the department. These license plate
emblems will fund the Cooper Jones act and provide funding for bicyclist and
pedestrian safety education, enforcement, and encouragement.
Any person may purchase Cooper Jones license plate emblems. The
emblems are to be displayed on the vehicle license plates in the manner
described by the department, existing vehicular licensing procedures, and
current laws. The fee for Cooper Jones emblems shall be twenty-five dollars.
All moneys collected shall first go to the department to be deposited into the
motor vehicle fund until all expenses of designing and producing the emblems
are recovered. Thereafter, the department shall deduct an amount not to exceed
five dollars of each fee collected for Cooper Jones emblems for administration
and collection expenses. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the
custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The
state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the bicycle and pedestrian safety
account as established in RCW 43.59.150.
