This bill aims to enhance traffic safety in Washington by establishing a grant program to support local initiatives that address nonmoving violations for low-income road users. The program, administered by the department, will provide funding for nonpunitive interventions such as helmet voucher programs, registration fee offsets, and community education workshops. Eligible applicants for these grants include cities, counties, tribal entities, law enforcement agencies, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations. The bill also defines "low-income road user" and mandates annual reporting on the grant recipients and projects funded.
Additionally, the bill outlines new regulations for traffic stops by peace officers. It specifies that officers may only enforce nonmoving violations as a secondary action during a primary stop for other offenses. Officers are required to inform the vehicle operator of the reason for the stop and may only question them within that scope unless reasonable suspicion arises. The bill also introduces requirements for consent searches and mandates detailed reporting on traffic stops, including demographic information about the vehicle operator and the outcome of the stop. Overall, the legislation seeks to improve traffic safety while promoting equity and accessibility for low-income individuals.