State Fiscal Highlights
· The requirements in the bill could generate new citations, generally minor misdemeanors, which, in turn, could increase revenues for two state funds: the Victims of Crime/Reparations Fund (Fund 4020) and the Indigent Defense Support Fund (Fund 5DY0). Any increase in revenues is dependent on the number of new citations issued as a result of the bill's requirements, but is unlikely to be more than negligible.
Local Fiscal Highlights
· The bill may result in an increase in citations to motorists who violate its provisions, but the revenue generated from the citations should offset any related enforcement costs. Any costs to counties and/or municipalities would unlikely exceed negligible.
Detailed Fiscal Analysis
The bill establishes a safe passing distance (three feet) between a motor vehicle and a bicycle, a violation of which is a minor misdemeanor, and would likely generate, at most, a negligible amount of fine revenue for local jurisdictions. A minor misdemeanor generally involves the issuance of a citation, but no arrest, and carries a fine of up to $150. If there is an increase in the number of citations issued, then there could also be a resulting increase in revenues for two state funds: the Victims of Crime/Reparations Fund (Fund 4020) and the Indigent Defense Support Fund (Fund 5DY0). Any increase in revenues is dependent on the number of new citations issued as a result of the bill's requirements, but is unlikely to be more than negligible. Assuming most individuals opt to pay the fine and not contest the citation, then the local fine revenues should offset enforcement costs such that the net cost, if any, would be no more than negligible for counties or municipalities. It is not clear how the penalty change will affect the degree to which any given jurisdiction cites violations under current law and practice.
