| Washington State House of Representatives |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Transportation Committee | |
HB 2480
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Concerning public transportation fares.
Sponsors: Representatives Clibborn, McIntire and Simpson.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/17/08
Staff: Kathryn Leathers (786-7114).
Background:
Public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs) and metropolitan municipal corporations (Metros)
are special purpose districts authorized to provide public transportation services within their
respective boundaries. Metros are also authorized to provide a number of other essential public
services, including water supply, sewage treatment, and garbage disposal.
Generally speaking, "public transportation service" means the transportation of packages,
passengers, and their incidental baggage by means other than by chartered bus or sight-seeing
bus, together with the terminals and parking facilities necessary for passenger and vehicular
access to and from such systems. For PTBAs, "public transportation service" also includes
passenger-only ferry service for those PTBAs eligible to provide passenger-only ferry service.
Neither PTBAs nor Metros have specific authority to monitor public transportation service fare
payment or to issue civil infractions to passengers who fail to provide proof of fare payment.
Regional transit authorities are specifically authorized to monitor fare payment and to issue civil
infractions for, among other things, failure to provide proof of payment.
Summary of Bill:
It is established that passengers traveling on public transportation operated by public
transportation benefits areas (PTBAs) and metropolitan municipal corporations (Metros) are
required to pay the established fare and to provide proof of payment when requested to do so by
persons designated to monitor fare payment.
Metros and PTBAs are authorized to designate persons to monitor fare payment, and to establish
a schedule of civil fines and penalties for civil infractions related to fare payment violations. A
civil infraction not to exceed $250 may be issued to passengers who fail to pay the fare; fail to
provide proof of payment when requested to do so by a person designated to monitor fare
payment; or refuse to leave the bus when asked by a person designated to monitor fare payment.
Persons designated to monitor fare payment are authorized to request proof of payment from
passengers; request proof of personal identification from passengers who fail to provide proof of
payment; request that a passenger leave the bus when proof of payment is not provided; and issue
a civil citation to passengers consistent with the established schedule of fines.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.