SB 73-USE OF HEADLIGHTS REQUIRED  CHAIR KOOKESH announced the consideration of SB 73. 1:03:19 PM MICHAEL ROVIDO, Staff to Senator Menard, said SB 73 will require the use of headlights at all times for motor vehicles that are operating on Alaska roads. The motivation for the bill is to increase safety on roads in Alaska. 1:04:19 PM SENATOR MEYER joined the committee. The Alaska Strategic Highway Safety Plan also recommends changing state law to require headlights to be switched on at all times. Norway and Sweden, which have conditions similar to Alaska, have headlight laws in effect and collisions have decreased. The sponsor hopes that Alaska will see similar reductions. SENATOR PASKVAN asked if the definition of highway means something other than roadway. MR. ROVIDO explained that according to legislative legal, the term "highway" is defined to encompass all public roadways in Alaska. CHAIR KOOKESH asked what the penalty would be for driving with your headlights turned off. MR. ROVIDO deferred the question to Lieutenant Dial. RODNEY DIAL, Lieutenant, Department of Public Safety, said there is a statute that requires the use of headlights at all times on certain roads that are so posted. The penalty for failing to use your headlights on those roads is $50 and two points. SENATOR PASKVAN asked the penalty range for the infraction. LIEUTENANT DIAL replied the fine is set at $50. The court can reduce the fine but it won't exceed $50. CHAIR KOOKESH asked if normal practice is to first issue a warning. LIEUTENANT DIAL said it's a low-level infraction and normal practice is to stop the driver and remind him or her of the headlight requirement. 1:07:34 PM SENATOR PASKVAN commented that he thinks that driving with vehicle lights turned on is highly prudent. LIEUTENANT DIAL agreed; DPS has a long-standing policy requiring the use of headlights at all times. Responding to a question from the Chair, he said the department supports the bill. CINDY CASHEN, Administrator, Alaska Highway Safety Office, confirmed that the use of headlights at all times is one of the projects listed in the Strategic Highway Safety Plan. It's on the list because about 15 people in Alaska die every year in head-on collisions. National data indicates that enforcing a headlights-on law could eliminate between 7 and 15 percent of these crashes. It's estimated that one life would be saved in the first year following implementation so the effect would be immediate. Fulltime use of headlights is already required on the Seward Highway and most people comply. Countries in the northern hemisphere require headlights at all times because long twilight periods and low sun angles produce shadows and make it difficult to see vehicles. Nearly all the published reports indicate that using headlights during the daytime reduces multiple vehicle crashes. A 1985 U.S. study determined that commercial fleet passenger vehicles that used headlights during the daytime were involved in 7 percent fewer daytime multiple vehicle crashes than similar vehicles that didn't use headlights. This is significant for Alaska because of the size of its commercial fleet. 1:11:07 PM KURT SMITH, Traffic and Safety Engineer, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, said DOTPF would post signs about required headlight use at points of entry, boarder crossings, ferry terminals and airports. The zero fiscal note will change to reflect the cost of that signage. CHAIR KOOKESH asked if the new fiscal note would be ready when the bill is heard in the next committee of referral. MR. SMITH said yes. SENATOR PASKVAN noted that the Strategic Highway Safety Plan mentions 10 signs at an estimated cost of $10,000. MR. SMITH said he believes it will be substantially more than that. CHAIR KOOKESH again asked for assurance that the new fiscal note would be available when the bill is heard by the judiciary committee. 1:13:00 PM SENATOR MEYER suggested that the fiscal impact may be positive since fines aren't currently collected and they will be in the future. "That may more than offset the cost of the signs," he said. When someone is pulled over for not having their lights turned on, they could receive a $50 fine plus fines for other offenses such as no child car seat or texting. It brings up the point that people need to use common sense when they drive and this will be a reminder. CHAIR KOOKESH asked if the department supports the bill. MR. SMITH said yes. 1:14:18 PM CHAIR KOOKESH closed public testimony and asked for the will of the committee. He restated that he is willing to move the bill with the promise that the DOTPF fiscal note will be available for the judiciary committee. It will also have a finance referral. SENATOR MEYER moved to report SB 73 from committee with individual recommendations and forthcoming fiscal note(s). There being no objection, SB 73 moved from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.