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.