As SB 6066 moved through the House, legislators refined the proposal further, mostly clarifying questions relating to implementation. The Senate then concurred with the House amendments and passed the bill. The next step is review and signature by the Governor.

The final version of the bill authorizes cities, counties, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), beginning in 2029, to create a crash prevention zone (CPZ) on roadways where serious injuries and fatalities are greater than expected for similar roads over the previous five years. Before 2029, a CPZ can be created along a nine-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 395 near Pasco and along two portions of Highway 12. Any jurisdiction establishing a CPZ must follow the relevant processes in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Highway Safety Manual.

Importantly, designation, establishment, investigation, or dissolution of a zone and any materials a jurisdiction prepares or uses in connection with the creation or management of the zone cannot be used against it in a civil action.

Cities and counties seeking to create a CPZ on public roads that cross into another jurisdiction, including state-managed roadways, must first have the approval of the other jurisdiction(s). Those local governments must also hold a public hearing to which the WSDOT regional administrator must be invited. WSDOT may designate a CPZ on a state highway without the approval of a local jurisdiction or a public hearing.

The bill authorizes cities, counties, and WSDOT to implement safety improvements in designated zones. They must conduct an engineering and traffic investigation of the public roads in the CPZ to identify safety improvement options, including adjustments to the speed limits.

The Washington State Patrol and local law enforcement must coordinate, within existing resources and to the extent practicable, increased enforcement of traffic laws within the CPZ to reduce collisions.

A city or county creating a CPZ must also create a corresponding account from which expenditures may only be used for engineering and traffic investigations, creation and installation of road signs, and safety improvements in the CPZ.

Local jurisdictions that create a CPZ can use automated traffic safety cameras to detect speed violations within the zone. Revenue from the cameras must first be used for operational purposes, and the remainder must be deposited into the corresponding CPZ account. The bill also doubles the penalty amount for unlawful use of a personal electronic device if committed while driving in a CPZ.

Once safety improvements have been implemented, the CPZ must be dissolved. It also may be dissolved at the discretion of the jurisdiction that created it or by the direction of the Legislature.

Updates to ‘crash prevention zone’ bill adjust fine amount, authorize traffic safety camera use

February 20, 2026

The Senate significantly amended SB 6066, authorizing local governments to establish ‘crash prevention zones’ (CPZs), before adopting it and passing it to the opposite chamber. The bill is now the sole “vehicle” for the proposal, as the companion, HB 2174, did not move forward.

One of the biggest updates to the bill is to limit the new authority to create a CPZ to one area of the state—the jurisdiction from which the legislation originates—in the short term. More specifically, from the date the bill becomes effective to January 1, 2029, local jurisdictions or the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may create a CPZ only along U.S. Highway 395 between the cities of Pasco and Mesa. Then, beginning in 2029, all other local jurisdictions may create such a zone where serious injuries and fatalities are greater than expected for similar roads.

WSDOT is granted the same authority over highways, beginning in 2029, where serious injuries and fatalities are greater than expected for similar highways over the previous five-year period.

Increased law enforcement coordination within CPZs must be conducted within existing resources, and the additional penalties for traffic infractions authorized in the original bill are removed. Instead, a local jurisdiction, having established a CPZ, must create a corresponding local account, the expenditures from which must be used for engineering and traffic investigations, creation and installation of road signs, and safety improvements, all within the CPZ.

The bill authorizes locals with a CPZ to use traffic safety cameras within the zone and to levy a penalty of $290 for speed violations. The revenue from the fine must first be used for camera administration, and the remainder must go to the local account established for the CPZ. Unlawful use of a personal electronic device in a CPZ merits a double penalty under the bill.

Finally, the causes for dissolving a CPZ are limited to the following:

• Once safety improvements have been implemented; or
• At the discretion of the jurisdiction that created the zone; or
• By the Legislature.

AWC appreciates many of the adopted amendments and continues to support the bill.

SB 6066 passed off the Senate floor by a near-unanimous vote. It now awaits a hearing in the House.

‘Crash prevention zone’ bill advances with important legal liability protection

January 30, 2026

A Senate bill allowing jurisdictions to fund traffic safety improvements in areas with multiple serious or deadly vehicle crashes by increasing infraction fees has moved forward with an important change limiting locals’ exposure to legal liability.

SB 6066, sponsored by Sen. Nikki Torres (R–Pasco), allows a city, town, county, or the Department of Transportation to create a “crash prevention zone” identifying public roads where there have been multiple traffic collisions.

The Senate Local Government Committee approved the bill with an AWC-requested amendment providing that any materials a jurisdiction prepares or uses in connection with the creation or management of the zone cannot be used against it in a civil action.

Under the bill, a jurisdiction that establishes a crash prevention zone must conduct a study of the zone’s public roads to identify safety improvements, including possible adjustments to speed limits. The jurisdiction can then post signs notifying motorists of the zone and increase traffic infraction fees by $73 to fund signage, improvements, and an increased law enforcement presence.

The zone would be dissolved once safety improvements have been implemented. It could also be dissolved earlier with the support of the local jurisdiction or by the petition of 10% of immediately adjacent property owners.

Both SB 6066 and a companion bill in the House, HB 2174, sponsored by Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla), advanced from their respective policy committees and are now before fiscal committees. However, the House bill does not contain the important liability protection provision that AWC sought.

AWC supports SB 6066 and efforts to give local jurisdictions additional tools to improve traffic safety. It also supports shielding locals from having to take on greater legal liability from working to make roadways safer, which could disincentivize that important work.

Date to remember

SB 6066 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, February 2, at 4 pm.