Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
02/23/2005 08:30 AM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB109 | |
| SB83 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 84 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 109 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 109-INCREASE FINE FOR SCHOOL ZONE VIOLATIONS
SENATOR GARY WILKEN, sponsor of SB 109, described the purpose of
the bill was a measure to create double fines for traffic
violations in school zones during school hours.
8:40:26 AM
SENATOR WILKEN introduced Crossing Guard Bob Myers and Lt. Todd
Sharp.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked Senator Wilken whether buses were
considered in the bill.
8:43:11 AM
SENATOR WILKEN stated his belief that buses are well accounted
for in existing legislation.
SENATOR FRENCH drew attention to a paragraph in the Alaska State
Troopers fiscal note concerning modification of the current bail
schedule. He asked Senator Wilken to clarify.
SENATOR WILKEN deferred to Lt. Sharp.
LT. TODD SHARP, Alaska State Troopers, advised the current bail
schedule would need to be modified.
SENATOR FRENCH asked Lt. Sharp to explain the difference between
the bail amount and the fine amount.
LT. SHARP responded the penalty would be set at twelve dollars
per mile per hour and the fine would be doubled.
8:48:30 AM
LT. SHARP clarified the fine amount is based on the bail for the
amount of speed over the limit. The penalty is the incremental
unit through which the fine is determined.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if the bail was the amount posted when
contesting a ticket.
LT. SHARP affirmed.
CHAIR SEEKINS asked the reason the Anchorage Police Department
has a disproportionate amount of traffic citations and whether
there was a specific area with a regular patrol that accounts
for the disproportionate number of tickets.
LT. SHARP did not know.
8:51:23 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked whether SB 109 would require a sign
alerting people of the double fines.
SENATOR WILKEN responded the bill only stipulates flashing
lights.
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked Lt. Sharp if the fine always matches
the bail.
LT. SHARP said if someone contests the citation, a judge could
reduce the fine. She or he could not exceed the fine.
CHAIR SEEKINS noted sometimes blinking lights are not visible.
He asked if it was possible to ensure that such a light is
visible to all drivers.
SENATOR WILKEN said the visibility of the light would be
determined by Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications.
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked Lt. Sharp to describe the computation
of how the surcharge [funding police office training] is
figured.
LT. SHARP responded the surcharge would be ten dollars for any
variation of the penalty.
SENATOR GUESS asked Senator Wilken to explain the reason the
bill stipulates flashing yellow lights. She said most lights in
her districts don't have flashing yellow lights.
SENATOR WILKEN responded flashing lights define when an area is
active.
8:57:48 AM
MR. BOB MEYER, crossing guard, introduced himself in support of
the bill. He described the pertinent aspects of his work.
Children cross the street unattended after 3:00 pm. Speeding is
common in the areas he has worked.
9:00:08 AM
Peak time for student crossing coincides with morning rush hour.
Drivers sometimes run stop signs or slide through them.
9:02:41 AM
MR. MEYER thanked Senator Wilken for sponsoring SB 109. Several
more people violate the crossing zone than are caught. Children
are often hit, injured, and killed.
9:05:08 AM
CHAIR SEEKINS asked whether there is a flashing yellow light on
Danby road.
MR. MEYER responded yes.
SENATOR WILKEN added SB 109 would be effective immediately in 95
zones across the state.
MS. NONA WILSON, legislative liaison for DOT, offered to answer
questions.
CHAIR SEEKINS asked Ms. Wilson the standard for flashing yellow
lights.
MS. WILSON responded DOT focuses on consistency. The control
devices [flashing yellow signs] are placed outside the lanes.
The standard is two installations. Sometimes a third light is
applied.
9:08:52 AM
Criteria for placing signs are complicated and are determined by
speed of traffic, volume of traffic, and the age of the
students. The cost for sign installation is $70,000.
CHAIR SEEKINS mentioned he has experienced rampant speeding on
Minnesota Avenue in Fairbanks. He has often missed the sign
himself. He questioned the responsibility of posting such a
sign.
9:12:47 AM
CHAIR SEEKINS wondered whether the bill should include a mention
of visibility of signs.
MS. WILSON noted the alternative for DOT would be to try and
provide additional advanced warning signage.
9:14:46 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS wondered whether the bill included school
parking lots. He expressed concern about the hazards in the
parking lots.
9:18:03 AM
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked Lt. Sharp if the department usually
tickets for three miles per hour over the speed limit.
LT. SHARP responded usually not.
SENATOR WILKEN moved Amendment 1.
Page 2, line 2 after the word "area" insert the word
"clearly". After the word "lights" insert "visible from all
lanes of traffic."
Hearing no objections, Amendment 1 was adopted.
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked how Alaskans would be informed of the
new law.
MS. WILSON said the DOT would be responsible for an ad campaign.
SENATOR HUGGINS moved CSSB 109(JUD) from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
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