BILL REQ. #:  H-1239.2 

Read first time 01/30/2007.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to increasing penalties in safety corridors; adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.61 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) On sections of roadways or sets of roadways that the traffic safety commission has identified as part of its corridor traffic safety program, the traffic safety commission may, if there is statistical evidence that the sections of roadway or sets of roadways have a greater than average number of crashes as compared to similarly designed and located sections of roadways or sets of roadways, designate by rule a safety corridor for the purposes of subsection (2) of this section.
     (2) A person found to have committed any infraction relating to speed restrictions in a safety corridor designated by rule by the traffic safety commission shall be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty shall not be waived, reduced, or suspended.
     (3) The safety corridor trust account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from additional monetary penalties assessed under subsection (2) of this section must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the traffic safety commission's corridor traffic safety program. Only the director of the traffic safety commission or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect January 1, 2008.