04/25/1997 01:10 PM House TRA

 HB 87 - TRAFFIC OFFENSES IN HIGHWAY WORK ZONES                              
                                                                               
 Number 515                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON announced the next order of business to be HB
, "An Act relating to fines and bail forfeiture amounts for                 
 certain offenses committed within highway work zones."                        
                                                                               
 Number 543                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that the bill doubles the fines for               
 speeding and for reckless or negligent driving in a highway work              
 zone.  It is a measure, designed to lessen the risk to highway work           
 crews and to reduce the number of accidents in the highway work               
 zones.  He stated that surveys have shown an effective way to                 
 induce good behavior in work zones is to increase the penalties.              
 He pointed out that there are more expensive ways of handling the             
 dangers in the works zones, such as the construction companies                
 contracting with the local police departments to be on site during            
 the road work.  He stated that the bill has a zero fiscal note.  He           
 stated that the fine for reckless driving is $1,000, with up to a             
 year imprisonment.  Negligent driving is a $300 fine with no jail             
 time and speeding is a fine of $50 with $2 for every mile over the            
 speed limit.                                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 687                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY stated that he would be in favor of a                  
 minimum fine level instead of a maximum fine ceiling because                  
 sometime offenders get off too easy.                                          
                                                                               
 Number 742                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that the statute reads not more than a            
 $1000 fine.  The statute sets the ceiling and not the floor.                  
                                                                               
 Number 793                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked if there are points involved in these            
 violations.                                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 825                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that there would be points involved               
 with speeding and reckless driving but he is not sure if points               
 apply to negligent driving.                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY stated that points on a license get the                
 offenders attention more so than the fines.  He stated that he                
 supports the bill but would like to see points involved and a floor           
 on the fines.                                                                 
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ELTON agreed that points are more effective.                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated that the next committee of referral is           
 the House Judiciary Standing Committee and they would be able to              
 considered the point penalty.                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 951                                                                    
                                                                               
 DON ETHERIDGE, District Council of Labors, stated that the council            
 is in favor of this legislation.  He stated that there are been               
 several close calls and this will deter accidents.                            
                                                                               
 Number 1081                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move HB 87, with individual           
 recommendations and a zero fiscal note.                                       
                                                                               
 Number 1094                                                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked if there were any objections, hearing             
 none, HB 87 was moved out of the House Transportation Standing                
 Committee.