OLYMPIA, WA – Lawmakers in Olympia are considering a bill that would limit law enforcement’s ability to make a traffic stop. Proponents of House Bill 1513 say police need to spend less time on non-moving violations like expired tabs. The Traffic Safety for All Act would help motorists fix equipment issues and reprioritize police time from low-risk traffic stops to safety-related stops.
House Committee on Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry staff member Martha Wehling explains the bill.
Representative Chipalo Street (D-Seattle) sponsors the legislation. He says it would improve community safety while building trust between law enforcement and “communities of color.”
Neal Weaver with the Washington State Patrol testified against the bill.
Weaver says their data shows that up to 8% of the DUI’s that Troopers stopped between 2018 and 2022 originated out of a traffic stop for non-moving violations.
Watch the hearing: https://tvw.org/video/house-community-safety-justice-reentry-2023011778/?eventID=2023011778
