3/23/04-A House bill that would outlaw the use of a device that can change some traffic signals from red to green has died.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach.
The bill, intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using so-called mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRT, was in the Senate Rules Committee at the close of the legislative session, effectively killing the bill for the year.
Under HB2319, which previously passed the House, a person caught buying, selling or using the device could face a fine up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

2/24/04-The Senate Highways and Transportation Committee is reviewing a House bill that would outlaw the use of a device that can change some traffic signals from red to green.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach.
The bill, which previously passed the House, is intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRT.
Under HB2319, sponsored by Rep. Deb Wallace, D-Vancouver, a person caught buying, selling or using the device could face a fine up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
The devices, which sit on a vehicle’s dash, are not regulated by current federal standards because they rely on a beam of light instead of a radio wave to trigger the light-changing mechanisms that have been attached to some intersections.
For bill status, call (360) 786-7573. In Washington, call 1-800-562-6000.

2/9/04-The House Transportation Committee approved a bill that would outlaw the use of a device that can change some traffic signals from red to green.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach.
The bill, which has been forwarded to the House Rules Committee, is intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRT.
Under HB2319, sponsored by Rep. Deb Wallace, D-Vancouver, a person caught buying, selling or using the device could face a fine up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, or both.
The devices, which sit on a vehicle’s dash, are not regulated by current federal standards because they rely on a beam of light instead of a radio wave to trigger the light-changing mechanisms that have been attached to some intersections.
The bill has been forwarded to the House Rules Committee. For bill status, call (360) 786-7573. In Washington, call 1-800-562-6000.
A similar Senate bill – SB6178 – is in the Senate Rules Committee.