[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6097226,"mediaKeyId","2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17","parentId",2828541,"title","Committee holds oath and brief hearings for two gubernatorial appointees to Board of Pilots Commissioners","audioSeconds",2151,"startMs",21000,"endMs",2172000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17&start=21&end=2172","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17/thumbnail_21000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097226/Washington/Committee-holds-oath-and-brief-hearings-for-two-gubernatorial-appointees-to-Board-of-Pilots-Commissioners","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097226-6ef1765773e4b0fe2e665b78785ff852/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073974&Signature=eSKHckfEZZwGoarZuRCkvZs4HBe-Q30mi5u82H6g7aAkoZxlIbOVIj7m1wZ3yWeHKd2BjUMbcSu1qjgocN8VBG31D94~ncDc~TQL0CnM8zQj9VfGZzw3ANyu-8MC~1CGBLPvKIKirspB5alMW0BFGgtZhOJ5BZYZY4VXEsVi~0d3pMIMLFwLR1ZxfUKDjw5NDNUT8PUd7Q2rR23WLbxlBHSObDw2r4a1TqwNWK4u2O7dH8DB-EnmYt1nRR197xB7PItGIwR1AEgGRd94wcdVnICLmehSyOwF1EhT5MiZ4Cmv4FLtrBZvHeUlciZft43fvS-gJi5uvo5LoTYTQVUOjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington State Legislature","date","2025-03-31T16:00:00Z","article","The Senate Transportation Committee held brief public hearings March 31 for two gubernatorial appointments to the Board of Pilots Commissioners. Severin Knutson and Timothy Farrell each gave sworn testimony and introduced themselves.

Severin Knutson described a career in the maritime trades that began with commercial fishing and progressed through work as a licensed Washington state pilot, maritime education and maritime risk management. Knutson said he grew up in port towns in Washington and has served four years as a state‑licensed pilot, and he welcomed committee questions about recruitment of new pilots.

Timothy Farrell said he has served on the Board since January 2019 as a public representative and previously spent 20 years managing seaports, including six years as CEO of the Port of Tacoma. Farrell told the committee he brings port management and environmental concern experience to the Board of Pilots Commissioners.

Committee chairs administered the oath required under Senate rule 69 and thanked both nominees for their service. No substantive questions or objections were raised during the brief hearings, and the committee noted it would take the nominations under consideration later in the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate\tTransportation 3/31/2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Severin Knutson and Timothy Farrell each took the oath and introduced themselves before the Senate Transportation Committee as nominees to the Board of Pilots Commissioners; both described maritime backgrounds and public‑service experience; no questions indicated concerns and no vote occurred during the hearing.","taxTitle","Transportation, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20512,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097231,"Bill would allow state agencies and cities to access multiuse roadway safety funds for green‑dot road upkeep",200,4700000,4900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17&start=4700&end=4900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17/thumbnail_4700000.jpg","/articles/6097231/Washington/Bill-would-allow-state-agencies-and-cities-to-access-multiuse-roadway-safety-funds-for-greendot-road-upkeep","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097231-5067b0208baa05e7f1a6d34b5a948355/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073974&Signature=FtJjimzVVEsxDlpv9BSN5L3THCi8azuOhl58tiPGICaWgW4-5LEGPsZ16R7c3tzT76LqhiBi7ZJ78mN-K-ENviC87UR7YDtGyn-O1YzdA1ll~nOKeQahobpPh6Qd-yuD7GePO3IfWMGOIRX4qWGrFsZH2wZMr3YKnb0voq0V6D7ZzC~CTmFOZyN18lkfBcpQluJ1-hKxu9KPlBV953CScNR2udxE8D-9YmiqzlUBVtExQYtje8mddcZdl5rqzm9VXej4YiblKdBOXuIjnzX71wT0JtEKSXq4VoVFZnVi1AogYyPZWF0h7qTI872QSflh4dkyXHc6qdvjcTC0qxCYvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Transportation Committee heard House Bill 1537 on March 31, a bill to expand eligible recipients of the multiuse roadway safety account (MRSA) to include the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and certain cities. Committee staff said MRSA is funded by an annual wheeled‑ATV registration fee and currently funds WSDOT grants for county roadway safety analyses, signage, and enforcement related to wheeled ATVs.

Brody Coval, Recreation Policy Manager at DNR, and Joel Sisolak, lands planning and recreation section manager at DFW, testified in support. They said the so‑called green‑dot system — a set of roads in Chelan, Yakima and Kittitas counties marked with green reflectors that provide access for camping, hunting and wheeled ATV travel — comprises more than 800 miles of routes that currently lack stable maintenance funding. The bill would authorize WSDOT to transfer MRSA funds during the second year of each biennium to DNR or DFW for mitigation of impacts, signage and educational mapping, but only after the relevant county submits a letter of support. WSDOT must retain a minimum of $80,000 in MRSA for grants to eligible local governments. The bill also expands eligible local governments to include cities or towns that have approved operation of wheeled ATVs on their roadways.

Ted Jackson of the Washington ATV Association and local recreation representatives urged passage, saying modest MRSA transfers could materially improve maintenance, user safety and emergency access. WSDOT staff estimated minimal administrative costs to manage the interagency transfers. Committee members did not pose substantive questions during the public hearing and no formal action occurred.","House Bill 1537 would let WSDOT transfer multiuse roadway safety account funds to the Department of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife for maintenance, signage and education on ‘green dot’ roads used for motorized recreation, subject to county support and a retained MRSA minimum for local grants.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097236,"Committee weighs pilot program for automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras; privacy advocates raise concerns",2886,1409000,4295000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17&start=1409&end=4295","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17/thumbnail_1409000.jpg","/articles/6097236/Washington/Committee-weighs-pilot-program-for-automated-vehicle-noise-enforcement-cameras-privacy-advocates-raise-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097236-15a3b956351d04c68de4068f1293cb96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073974&Signature=oL7DEJ-TkIwknjU23wkkeLy0c5KWHaasys4PECtOn24v0Wl9DbZYjBRbEYx65ziPpSwR0HvtzFMt5J6FUrFHSsVSULk4yrZrNmm~itadBDMYSavSrnKPDON5SCvJlUZzsY0EcvZ9-xmOPlGS0mjwy-AyJoSHjCDU5IBjF1FY9FmNCBTNYgNptMSEEi2Ez4MOTQzTdLwBjlr5t1OqTgqzcgpgne6bZdr0S3iiUtfk-CvZg6v-nTGqDHWnB1bczf4yma8ivmA0owCA0B~iY0izZK4sKdabK1fdR9mLcVMQXhvzjum-x5h11RgBPJ811UNRXqshdnnudzNCJmPfzhXywQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing March 31 on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1423, which would authorize a pilot program, overseen by the Traffic Safety Commission, allowing cities with populations of at least 2,000 to use automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras in locally designated vehicle racing enforcement zones between Jan. 1, 2026, and July 1, 2028.

Staff explained the bill would permit cameras to detect violations of maximum permissible vehicle noise levels set by the Department of Ecology or equivalent local ordinances and would limit recordings to audio of the vehicle immediately before, during and after a violation. The Traffic Safety Commission would report to the Legislature in 2028 on deployment, locations, demographics and violations. Brandon Popovac said the fiscal impact to the Traffic Safety Commission is indeterminate, depending on the number of participating cities, with minimal costs to the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Representative Brandi Donaghy, the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation targets vehicles intentionally modified to be much louder and to facilitate street racing. She said the pilot requires signage 30 days before camera use, limits retention to what is necessary to enforce infractions, and involves human review of recordings before enforcement. Donaghy urged jurisdictions of varied size and income levels to participate in order to gather representative data.

Supporters emphasized health and community impacts. Sol Keeter of Sithron, a technology vendor piloting noise enforcement in Kirkland, described 20‑second captures triggered around a sound‑pressure peak (10 seconds before and after the peak), beamforming to triangulate the source and software to obfuscate faces; he said non‑vehicle audio is discarded before upload. Ben Zorlingo, a city council member, told the committee racing noise is a top concern in his community and urged the Legislature to advance the bill.

Opponents and privacy advocates raised concerns about data capture and retention. Tee Sanon of the ACLU of Washington said microphones and cameras in neighborhoods create privacy and civil‑liberties risks, could record movements and conversations without consent, and lacked explicit retention limits in the bill. Ramona Brandes, representing criminal defense organizations, requested amendments to limit use of audio strictly to identifying vehicles modified for increased performance; she also noted the bill text contains no explicit storage‑limit language.

Committee members asked technical and equity questions. Senator Alvarado asked what the microphone records when not triggered; staff said that was not specified and could be clarified by sponsors or technology providers. Senator Wilson and others asked about health thresholds and whether noise standards would tie to human‑health benchmarks; speakers said Ecology sets permissible noise levels under existing statutory authority but the pilot uses local ordinances or Ecology rules as triggers. Senator Fortunato and others noted the bill requires the Traffic Safety Commission to analyze camera placement by area demographics and household income in its report to the Legislature.

The hearing included requests for narrow language to guard against mission creep, explicit limits on retention, and stronger protections for communities that could be disproportionately affected. No committee vote occurred during the hearing.","Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1423 would authorize a pilot allowing cities to use automated noise‑detection cameras in designated vehicle‑racing enforcement zones; supporters cite public‑health and nuisance harms, opponents warn of privacy and equity risks and want narrower limits on data capture and storage.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097240,"Committee considers allowing safe‑driver course to shorten some license suspensions",1408,1105000,2513000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17&start=1105&end=2513","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17/thumbnail_1105000.jpg","/articles/6097240/Washington/Committee-considers-allowing-safedriver-course-to-shorten-some-license-suspensions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097240-55677d363da443a0f2e501b7c6595b55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073974&Signature=Lp78D04cGd3hX-cw7d-WujcqLWugjh-8bEXJWhuaOLnz7zXuCNfsVUMlxRG~ZEI7rwC7xBdYOqdECnqqZNLYma9Dz14fk8gFTJSu5GhvqDNY3MzBCzSn-AaWeBeeCveQnmZOYA6nr0Ph~-LjH8PuQho-oskMIknkbl-UGOBRCwTWhkJZ3gkzEj85csh8h3EPmEc3rEP7ymY8nw9ShJ-zMQnXS-dxXdn7gGeKjjKzmM5pWCVNIy7SqZ0SRtRkBn5tO2zIRdpFF6BY6u1sA~l50HjiHbqcLZ8Lx2fAZYL~BSZK6KTA8ZN~tLNlUDykfPZwySeZh5H9Zq4694qDum7eGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony March 31 on Substitute House Bill 1244, a Department of Licensing (DOL) request bill that would permit certain driver's license suspensions to end early if the license holder completes a DOL‑approved safe driving course and pays the $20 replacement license fee.

Under current law, accumulation of three or more moving violations in one year, or four or more in two years, triggers a 60‑day license suspension and a one‑year probationary period after reinstatement; the license holder must surrender their license during the suspension. Committee staff Kelly Simpson said the bill would allow the suspension to end before the 60 days if the person completes a DOL‑approved safe driving course and pays the $20 fee. The early‑end option may be used once every five years and the one‑year probationary period would remain in effect. Simpson reported an estimated fiscal impact of $143,000 to DOL and a projected revenue loss of roughly $13,000.

Representative Sharon Wiley, who described the bill as a department request, testified in support and framed the bill as an educational opportunity for drivers who accumulate minor violations because of inexperience. Alejandro Sanchez, deputy director of the Department of Licensing, testified in support on behalf of DOL and reiterated that the bill is aimed at minor violations—not DUIs or reckless driving—and that it provides a one‑time “off‑ramp” designed to reduce repeat infractions. Sanchez said about 80% of people who take the safe driving course do not receive further infractions during the probation year, and the early‑end option would be available only once every five years.

Senators asked no substantive questions during the hearing. No formal committee action was taken during the public hearing.","Substitute House Bill 1244 would allow certain drivers with multiple moving violations to end a suspension early by completing an approved safe‑driving course and paying a replacement fee; the proposal is a Department of Licensing request and limited to non‑serious infractions.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6097243,"Senate committee hears bill to require intelligent speed‑assistance devices for certain speedy drivers",241,292000,533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17&start=292&end=533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828541-22b412555e41d4e835884293f5847c17/thumbnail_292000.jpg","/articles/6097243/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-require-intelligent-speedassistance-devices-for-certain-speedy-drivers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097243-a9a4447cb6ee0d7a9bfbc405b2a3e3e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073974&Signature=MyhzkWCSSKpsqBu~cZ-SeVLMBpMdIRuaajf6lrLfWS5u3D5nyrslSZ05UHpKCRE~SqC2ZfIPmcn5TCBP0E9JTbISE8LPVmHVEGntgo9NGWuTBC73N8Je3~dztd-qPDMwOu~1E~7fTaBktZ4eeIhpfLeJHTEvRAdpJoG9rqKbK37pSyNa5CH8735cAVupfPbtLuK3wDlewypUqBi27YAvNn-gX~3kAPf3bjOzdVLQgVvtyLVQaPXM4cEcz5wDz7W1K~ZVkSzP9C4H17Pmshx4GxgVP~Dc7xmkrqaWlVfkVYc1~uoAEoyUq8Tvu1hXo~r-ncXL4qJ5r32Qr-C8AflNkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate Transportation Committee public hearing on March 31, 2025, examined Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1596, which would require use of intelligent speed‑assistance (ISA) devices in vehicles as a condition of some restricted licenses, certain probation orders and court‑ordered conditions following convictions for reckless driving or excessive speeding.

The bill would prohibit operating a vehicle without a functioning ISA device when that device is required for an occupational or temporary restricted driver's license issued by the Department of Licensing (DOL), when required during a court‑ordered probationary period, or when required by a court as a condition of pretrial release or post‑conviction probation. Brandon Popovac, staff to the committee, said the bill defines “excessive speeding” as 20 mph or more over posted limits on roads with limits above 40 mph, and lower thresholds where posted limits are 40 mph or below. The bill would require an override function allowing an operator to exceed the preset limit up to three times per month and obliges the device user, unless waived for indigency, to pay installation, removal and leasing costs plus a $21 monthly fee. Device companies may retain $0.25 of that fee for administration and must remit the remainder to DOL for an indigency offset account, Popovac said.

The bill drew extensive emotional testimony from families who have lost relatives to high‑speed crashes. Representative Marie Levitt, the bill’s prime sponsor, framed the measure as a way to “provide this tool for our courts to ensure individuals can get to where they need to go” while limiting extreme speeding. “This is a solution that invites a proactive step that aims to protect the public from preventable, predictable tragic injuries,” Levitt said.

Supporters included Amy Friedheim, chair of the felony traffic unit at the King County Prosecutor’s Office, who compared ISA devices to ignition interlock programs and said courts need a tool to allow impaired or suspended drivers to access necessary travel while reducing risk. Ken Denton, a retired Washington State Patrol investigator who oversaw the ignition interlock oversight program, and Mark McKechnie of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission cited rising speed‑related fatalities and data showing higher incidence of extreme speeding.

Law enforcement and labor witnesses — including Billy Wallace of the Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers and multiple police chiefs — said ticketing and suspensions alone have not stopped repeat high‑speed drivers and argued ISA devices would add an enforceable layer of protection for workers and the public in work zones and neighborhoods.

Committee members probed cost, equity and enforcement issues. Senator Christian asked whether the state would absorb device costs for people who claim indigency; Popovac said yes, the bill establishes funding to offset costs for indigent persons. Senator King asked for clarification that device companies keep $0.25 of the $21 monthly fee for administration. Senators also asked whether driving a different vehicle without the device would avoid penalties; staff said operating any vehicle while under the requirement without a functioning device would be a traffic infraction, with further penalties possible depending on the condition imposed.

The bill includes criminal penalties if a person disables an ISA device or instructs another to disable it. It provides liability immunity for motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors or dealers for loss or injury caused by device design, manufacture, installation or use, with an exception for knowingly harmful repairs or updates. Popovac cited an initial DOL implementation cost estimate of $1,000,000 for the 2025–27 biennium and a one‑time $70,000–$76,000 training cost for the State Patrol.

Testimony from victims’ families and traffic safety advocates urged passage. Opposing or skeptical viewpoints in the hearing were limited for this bill; many speakers focused on saving lives and pointed to other states’ steps to adopt similar technologies. No formal committee vote was taken during the hearing.

If advanced, the bill would create a new licensing and monitoring regime involving DOL, device vendors and the courts; the text submitted to the committee ties device eligibility and monitoring to existing occupational and temporary restricted license frameworks.","A Washington bill would require courts, probation and certain restricted licenses to mandate intelligent speed‑assistance (ISA) devices for people convicted of reckless driving or excessive speeding; proponents argued it will save lives, while questions were raised about cost, device oversight and enforcement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee holds oath and brief hearings for two gubernatorial appointees to Board of Pilots Commissioners

Bill would allow state agencies and cities to access multiuse roadway safety funds for green‑dot road upkeep

Committee weighs pilot program for automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras; privacy advocates raise concerns

Committee considers allowing safe‑driver course to shorten some license suspensions

Senate committee hears bill to require intelligent speed‑assistance devices for certain speedy drivers