520 fairness bill signed

Published 8:15 am Friday, May 17, 2013

Drivers on the SR 520 bridge will get a chance to plead their cases before a judge if they feel they got unfairly penalized for not paying a toll on time – and they can have the penalty thrown out if the judge buys their argument, under a bill by Rep. Cyrus Habib that was signed into law by Gov. Inslee.

Habib, D-Kirkland, represents the north portion of Bellevue.

Currently, judges in the state’s special “toll court” don’t have the authority to reduce or waive penalties assessed for late payment of tolls on the bridge, regardless of circumstances. House Bill 1941 gives the judges the leeway to do that after hearing from the penalized driver.