03/18/2009 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

               SB  73-USE OF HEADLIGHTS REQUIRED                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:21:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of SB 73.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  ROVIDO,  Staff  to  Senator Menard,  said  SB  73  would                                                               
require  the  use  of  vehicle   headlights  at  all  times  when                                                               
operating  on Alaska  roads. This  addresses  a key  goal of  the                                                               
Alaska Strategic  Highway Safety Plan. Canada,  Norway and Sweden                                                               
saw collisions drop after passing  headlight laws and this caused                                                               
the sponsor to take a serious look at doing this in Alaska.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH said he supports the bill.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:24:14 PM                                                                                                                    
ROY HOITE JR.,  representing himself from Homer,  described SB 73                                                               
as a necessary bill. Since  2004 cars come equipped with daylight                                                               
running lights  and people are  becoming more dependent  on their                                                               
use.  You get  surprised when  they aren't  on, he  said. It's  a                                                               
safety factor that has proven itself on the Seward Highway.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:27:56 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR FRENCH closed public testimony  and asked about the highway                                                               
signs that would be erected should the bill pass.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
KURT   SMITH,  Traffic   and  Safety   Engineer,  Department   of                                                               
Transportation and  Public Facilities  (DOTPF), said  should this                                                               
become law DOTPF believes that  it's only fair to notify drivers.                                                               
Signs  would be  posted at  points of  entry including  boarders,                                                               
airports,  and  marine terminals.  They  estimate  that 40  signs                                                               
would be necessary at a total  cost of $135,000. DOTPF could come                                                               
up with $40,000 so the fiscal note is $95,000.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH  asked if the  sponsor would  agree to a  January 1,                                                               
2010  effective date  to provide  time for  DOTPF to  put up  the                                                               
signs and the public to become aware of the law.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. SMITH  said DOTPF could  have the signs  up by October  1 and                                                               
believes it  would be advantageous  to institute it  then because                                                               
people use their headlights at that time of year.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH proposed conceptual Amendment  1 to add an effective                                                               
date of October 1, 2009.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:30:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR FRENCH found no discussion  or objection and announced that                                                               
conceptual Amendment  1 passes.  Finding no further  questions or                                                               
discussion he asked the will of the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI moved  to report  SB 73,  as amended,  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s). There  being no objection,  CSSB 73(JUD) moved  from the                                                               
Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.