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Show Solon: Run n of walk to save bill By JUDY JENSEN Asst. Managing Editor SALT LAKE Tough legislation legisla-tion that would impose heavy finess for motorists caught speeding in school crossing zones is all but dead, a lawmaker said Monday. "If we don't get people supporting suppor-ting it calling their legislators it will die on the table on Wednesday at 3 p.m.," said the bill's sponsor Rep. Michael G. Waddoups, R-Salt Lake City. Waddoups believes the death of the bill will mean the death of his hopes to safeguard Utah's children. Waddoups has fought an uphill battle to get HB-179 heard on the floor. He said he introduced the legislation to "help eliminate the slaughter of children." He referred to the tragic accidents that have taken the lives of two school children in his district. His proposed legislation would require flashing lighted signals, and crossing guards at all school crossings. cross-ings. The bill also imposes a mandatory man-datory fine for motorists cited for speeding through school crossings. Waddoups said he is frustrated over the fact that after his initial bill was discussed in a committee meeting last week, "We agreed to all of the amendments the Democrats wanted, and then they voted to table the amended version saying it would impose too big a burden on the school districts. They basically voted against their own amendments," said Waddoups incredulously. Legislators voting to table the bill were Rep. Kurt Oscarson, D-Sandy; Rep. Arlo James. D-Keams; Rep. Alan Rushton. D-West ValJey; Rep. Max Young, L-Murray, and Rep. Ronald Greensides, D-Salt Lake. Waddoups explained both the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the Utah League of Cities and Towns favor the legislation. legisla-tion. "UDOT agreed to fund the cost of installing all new crossing signals," Waddoups said. He added that the amended bill would set monies collected from fines aside to pay the wages of new crossing guards. Currently, local governing entities pay the wages of crossing guards. The new legislation legisla-tion would require that all new crossing guards hired in the future would be paid by local school districts. The ' school crossing guard reimbursement account," established es-tablished from fines generated by the bill, would be used for the new crossing guards' wages. Ihose fines were originally suggested sug-gested at $50 for speeds between 21 and 29 mph; $500 for speeds between be-tween 30 to 39 mph, and $1,000 for speeds 40 mph or more. The amended bill cuts those figures in half for the first offense, and reinstates the original amounts for repeat offenses. Legislative fiscal analyst Mike Kjar said his research shows the bill should generate an additional yearly revenue of $140,000. The new fine schedule would go into effect on July 1, 1991 in crosswalks already equipped with flashing signals, and SEE BILL ON A-2 "? 3&r w'Jv ""i ; L I :L.n.',,1 .. , frfflBBKHH y---sy-s . ytff-'' ' r irif-ifiriitMMtoiiiitfilll f: f ' y ' s. - - V - ' - - ' , " L A truck motors through a school zone in Bountiful where the speed limit is 20 m.p.h. when children are present. Utah lawmakers will decide Wednesday the fate of a bill which would raise the minimum fine for speeders in school zones to as much . . as $1 ,000. (Clipper photo by Patrick Mitchell) ' :' ; r Bill CONTINUED FROM A-l July 1, 1992 for crosswalks that need flashing signals installed. Waddoups said members of local school districts, government entities and UDOT would meet to determine deter-mine where new crosswalks are necessary. "Uniformity is still the key word. We want to be sure children across the state are safe," Waddoups said. He added one of the bills biggest opponents is Rep. Osc arson. Rep. Oscarson said he is not against the bill. "I don't want anyone to go out and kill some kid, but the sponsor hasn't worked with all the groups. He hasn't brought them together to discuss this," he said. Oscarson said UDOT agreed to pay for the flashing signals, "because they don't want to be the bad guy in this." Oscarson said the school districts will probably be the biggest opponents. oppo-nents. "I've been told a crossing guard costs about $5,000 a year," Oscarson said. He added a question has been raised about the liability the school districts if an accident occurs in a school crossing. "If we can get all that figured out I love the bill," Oscarson said. He said if he is assured the school districts and the PTA favor the '. legislation he would vote to ap- ' prove it. He was less than enthusiastic ' about the chances of the bill pass- '. ing. Oscarson said he doesn't think it will be possible for Waddoups to ' get eveiything done by Wednesday. 1 "'This problem has existed forever. ' . There is a need to address it, but -X maybe it needs to be looked at in '. ' the interim," Oscarson said. ' |