House Bill 1363, which had bipartisan support, including 20 members of the majority party, would have made the floor vote a reality
Reps. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver and Kevin Waters, R-Stevenson, released the following statement regarding the House majority party’s decision to block a motion to vote on legislation on the House floor that would change the state’s vehicular pursuit law:
“Coming into this legislative session one of our top priorities was to restore reasonable suspicion as the standard for initiating vehicle pursuits by law enforcement. House Bill 1363, which had bipartisan support, including 20 members of the majority party, would have made this a reality.
“However, despite that strong support, the majority party decided to kill the bill before it could reach the House floor. Through a procedural motion in the House chamber today, Republicans attempted to bring up the bill for a debate and vote.
“Unfortunately, this motion was denied, when every Democrat, including the primary sponsor and the 19 reps. who cosponsored the bill, voted against the motion. With the House of origin cutoff looming Wednesday, it’s highly unlikely the Legislature will act on this vital policy this session.
“We are extremely disappointed the motion was not debated and passed off the House floor. It’s sad that public safety is not a higher priority. This bill would have authorized police to pursue criminal suspects based on reasonable suspicion rather than the much more stringent probable cause.
“Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle worked together to get a modified version of this bill passed out of the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee and later the Transportation Committee.
“Crime continues to rise in Washington and bad actors are becoming more emboldened every day because they know officers cannot pursue them in most situations. We were very hopeful this bill would begin to rectify this situation.
“We will continue supporting our law enforcement officers and working to help bring justice to victims by holding criminals accountable for their actions.
“So many Washingtonians wanted this legislation. We hope Democrats will get the message and bring this bill up for a vote on the House floor. House Republicans are still open to negotiations because we understand how important this issue is to everyone in our state.”
Information provided by Washington State House Republicans, houserepublicans.wa.gov
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With regard to Vehicular Pursuit Reform, sincere thanks to Reps Paul Harris, Kevin Waters, Greg Cheney and Stephanie McClintock for continuing to push for a full House vote on a bill this year. Monica Stonier and Sharon Wylie are also supporting it, as I understand it, and if so – thanks to them. SB 5352 on Vehicle Reform passed the Senate yesterday and a House vote in favor of a companion bill could make this essential reform a reality this year. Some Republicans are not supporting it because it doesn’t go far enough. That is the wrong approach. This is the best that can happen this year. To let the matter die would send an encouraging message to criminals to keep doing what they are doing and more. To let the matter die would send a message to law enforcement that we can’t escape the status quo. So depressing to those heroes who put their lives on the line for us. Our Sheriff’s department supports this reform vigorously as does the WA Assoc. of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Monica Stonier (D) and Sharon Wylie (D) are listed as cosponsors of HB 1363. However, they, and all the other democrats listed as co-sponsors didn’t support putting HB 1363 to a vote, which is unusual. If legislators co-sponsor a bill, they typically work to get it to a floor vote! The article explains this.
“Through a procedural motion in the House chamber today, Republicans attempted to bring up the bill for a debate and vote.
“Unfortunately, this motion was denied, when every Democrat, including the primary sponsor and the 19 reps. who cosponsored the bill, voted against the motion.”
Thanks for the update on SB 5352, which passed the Senate. I hope the House companion bill will make it to a vote.
This is what happens when Democrats are in the majority anywhere in the Country. Rising crime, anti-law enforcement policies, burdensome taxation, destruction of once beautiful cities. If you voted Democrat because that’s what you’ve always done wake up to the fact that it is your Party that is in control.
Yes Anna, I agree. There are too many people that need to wake up ( without going woke) to the fact that many democrats are good at campaign promises, but that is not what you end up getting.
It is a shameful excuse for Republicans to not support the reform bill sb5254. Criminals arre getting more emboldened each day with car thefts, home invasions, assault and shoplifting, to name just a few.
PLEASE let the police do their job!
No problem. Citizens are sick and tired of all of the political crap that favors criminals and minorities. We realize that the only ones who really want to protect us, is us. We’ll handle it ourselves.