The bill establishes a framework for creating crash prevention zones in Washington State, allowing counties, cities, and towns, as well as the Department of Transportation, to designate areas with a high incidence of serious collisions. These zones will be established following a public hearing where community members can provide input. Once designated, jurisdictions are required to conduct engineering and traffic investigations to identify necessary safety improvements, which may include changes to speed limits. Increased law enforcement presence and traffic law enforcement will be coordinated within these zones to enhance safety.

Additionally, the bill prescribes penalties for traffic infractions occurring within crash prevention zones, with a monetary penalty of $73 for violations related to speed restrictions or vehicle collisions, provided that appropriate signage is posted. The penalties collected will be allocated to a dedicated account for funding safety improvements and law enforcement efforts in the zone. The bill also allows for the dissolution of a crash prevention zone once safety measures are implemented or upon request from local stakeholders. Furthermore, it amends existing law to authorize counties to establish crash prevention zones in accordance with the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.89.030
Substitute bill: 36.89.030