Item 6: Ratification of IGR Minutes and Direction on Legislative Policy

Home Browse Search

Mr. Cushman said there were council legislative policies regarding traffic safety but nothing related to criminal law. Staff’s position on the bills were because they impacted the department’s ability to delivery police services and there was value to the City having a position as legislators frequently felt that profes- sional organizations had vested interests and do not give them consideration. The motion died for lack of a second. HB 2645 Responding to a question from Ms. Bettman, Mr. Cushman indicated that staff would recommend support of the bill, which created an offense for distracted driving, if an exemption for the two-radios used by public safety personnel was included. Mr. Pryor, seconded by Ms. Bettman, moved to support the bill with amendments. The mo- tion passed unanimously, 3:0. HB 2649 Ms. Wilson said Ms. Taylor wanted to change the bill’s status to Priority 3, Oppose. Ms. Taylor considered the bill an invasion of privacy as people could have legitimate reasons to have concealed compartments in their cars. Mr. Cushman said the department supported the bill because the police must prove the intent of the concealed compartment was criminal. Otherwise, there would be no way to charge a person because the mere fact of such a compartment was not illegal. Ms. Taylor, seconded by Ms. Bettman, moved to change the status of the bill to Priority 3. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. SB 431 Ms. Bettman wanted to change the status of the bill to Priority 3, Support with the amendments identified by staff. Mr. Cushman recalled staff wanted the bill to be revised to make it clear that a public street could not be defined as a parking structure. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to change the status of the bill to Priority 3 with amendments. The motion passed unanimously, 3:0. SB 573 Ms. Wilson said Ms. Taylor pulled the bill because she wished to change the City’s position to Support. The bill would require a driver to stop for a pedestrian preparing to enter a sidewalk. Ms. Taylor maintained that the method had worked in Seattle for many years. Ms. Bettman recalled recent confusing changes made to State law related to the issue and preferred to retain the staff recommendation. Mr. Pryor agreed. Ms. Taylor thought anything that increased pedestrian safety was a good thing. A person merely had to walk up to a sidewalk and traffic stopped. Mr. Cushman explained that staff’s major concern was related to the pedestrian hand signal and enforce- ment. He thought that the proposed bill would confuse things and not actually help pedestrians. Mr. Pryor MINUTES—Council Committee on Intergovernmental Relations March 9, 2007 Page 2