House Committee on Transportation & Energy (02/01/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:	02/01/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:41 PM to 02:54 PM	Borodkin	X
		Green	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Hefley	*
		Knoedler	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Larson	X
	Representative Pommer	Lindstrom	X
		Ragsdale	X
This Report was prepared by		Sullivan	X
	Jamila Rockette	Welker	X
		McFadyen	X
		Pommer	*
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1138 HB06-1125		Postponed Indefinitely Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:43 PM -- House Bill 06-1138

Representative Rose, prime sponsor, presented HB06-1138, which authorizes a law enforcement agency to designate a person with the appropriate technical expertise to perform vehicle identification number inspections in lieu of a peace officer. Representative Rose asked the committee to postpone the bill indefinitely because all interested parties could not reach an agreed upon solution.


BILL:	HB06-1138
TIME:	01:44:02 PM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Move to Postpone Indefinitely House Bill 06-1138. The motion passed 11-0.
SECONDED:	Lindstrom
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:47 PM -- House Bill 06-1125

Representative Coleman, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1125, which makes it a primary offense, punishable as a class B traffic infraction, for a driver to operate a motor vehicle without the driver, certain children, and all front-seat passengers wearing fastened safety belts.

01:49 PM

Alexa Gromko, Manager of Public Relations and Public Affairs for AAA Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Gromko stated that national research shows that seat belt usage increases by 11 to 14% when states pass mandatory seat belt laws. Over 2,000 of Colorado's AAA members sent letters to the organization showing support for the mandatory seat belt legislation. Ms. Gromko stated that legislation is important for saving lives and money.

01:52 PM

Herman Stockinger, Legislative Liaison for the Colorado Department of Transportation, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Stockinger stated that the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) focuses more on safety than previous federal transportation bills, and allows $12 million in additional and flexible spending for Colorado, if this legislation is passed.

01:55 PM

Denny O'Malley, President of Craig Hospital, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. O'Malley stated that seat belts prevent more injuries than they cause. Mr. O'Malley further stated that serious injuries or death as a result of not wearing a safety belt are a significant financial liability to the state each year.

02:02 PM

Jim Wolfinbarger, representing the Colorado State Patrol, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Wolfinbarger stated that Colorado has above average compliance in individuals wearing safety belts compared to other states with similar laws. Mr. Wolfinbarger stated that individuals double their chances of surviving a car accident when they use a safety belt and that children are more likely to use their safety belts when their parents use their safety belts.

02:31 PM

Chief Jerry Garner of the Greeley Police Department, representing the Colorado Chief of Police Association (CCPA), spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Garner stated that the CCPA supports the bill because it will reduce the number of people killed or seriously hurt in Colorado.

02:39 PM

Emily Tompkins, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Tompkins stated that using a safety belt is one of the best defenses against impaired drivers. Ms. Tompkins also stated that impaired drivers often fail to use their safety belts and this legislation will help law enforcement officers intercept impaired drivers before they cause an accident.

02:43 PM

Representative Coleman gave her closing statements.


BILL:	HB06-1125
TIME:	02:52:42 PM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Move House Bill 06-1125, unamended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 8-3.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	No
	Knoedler	No
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Welker	No
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:54 PM
The meeting adjourned.