A new bill looks to reduce traffic stops for some types of infractions. It will be heard in committee on February 10.

HB 1512, sponsored by Rep. Chipalo Street (D–Seattle), aims to prioritize violations such as moving violations, seatbelt violations, and serious equipment failures. Minor nonmoving violations (like expired tags or broken lights) could only be enforced as secondary offenses after a driver has already been stopped for a primary reason.

As written, the bill:

• Creates low-income grant program: Establishes a grant program to provide solution-oriented responses to nonmoving violations for low-income road users.
• Limits traffic stop interactions: Limits the circumstances where peace officers may stop or detain the operator of a vehicle and specifies additional process requirements for traffic stops.
• Allows mailing warnings: Authorizes peace officers to mail a warning of a traffic infraction to the registered owner of a vehicle without stopping or detaining the operator of the vehicle, under certain circumstances.

AWC has some concerns that this bill would have the consequence of fewer road users paying their car tab fees, and thus lowering this vital revenue source for cities.

Dates to remember

HB 1512 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Community Safety Committee on Monday, February 10 at 1:30 pm.