“Day in court” for appeals of SR 520 toll penalties

Nearly one in five drivers crossing the State Route 520 bridge over Lake Washington lacks the pre-purchased windshield transponder that is "read" by electronic sensors so that the toll amount can be deducted from a prepaid or online account. For those 20 percent, cameras photograph the vehicle license plate and then mail a bill for the toll to the owner. Late payment of the toll triggers penalties: $5 for a 15-day delay, another $40 for an 80-day delay – for each crossing.

Some drivers have complained that they got slapped with the penalties, but never got the bill in the mail in the first place – maybe because they moved, were in the hospital, got divorced or for other understandable reasons. But no matter how legitimate the excuse, they've been out of luck: The judges in the state's "toll court" lack the authority to reduce or waive the penalties if the underlying toll was correctly assessed.

But that would change under a bill by Rep. Cyrus Habib that gives penalized drivers who think they've been wronged a chance to make their case – and gives judges the power to cut the drivers some slack if the argument is convincing. House Bill 1941 received final legislative approval April 23 and is on its way to the governor. Click here to read more about it.

Public radio network spotlights Rep. Cyrus Habib

​First-term Rep. Cyrus Habib of Kirkland has attracted a lot of media attention this session because he’s been blind since age 8 and is the state’s first blind legislator in a century. But it’s another distinction of Habib’s that served as the lead-in for a recent public-radio report on him: He’s the highest-ranking Iranian-American elected official in the nation.

Here’s what Habib told the Public Radio International Network on their program “The World:”

I think we’re at a critical moment as a community of Iranian-Americans, or Middle-Eastern Americans.

To listen to a recording of the segment or read the text version, click here.

 

 

Read this story in Spanish.

Rep. Habib named to board of Innovate Washington

Rep. Cyrus Habib

Rep. Cyrus Habib will draw upon his background in working with high-tech entrepreneurs in his new position on the board of directors of Innovate Washington, a public-private partnership that seeks to spur cutting-edge economic development in the state.

Habib, who was appointed to the board Feb. 28 by House Speaker Frank Chopp, said:

This is a great opportunity for me to continue my work making Washington the No. 1 state for job creation and business innovation. My work in the Legislature will be substantially enhanced through the connection with business leaders and others at Innovate Washington.

Innovate Washington was created by the Legislature in 2011 to catalyze job creation and 21^st-century economic development by bringing together business and government leaders to focus expertise and investment on emerging technology businesses. It applies public and private financing to foster growth in the sectors of aerospace, advanced materials and manufacturing, clean energy, information technology, agriculture and life sciences.

Habib, a first-term legislator from Kirkland, is a lawyer at Perkins Coie in Seattle who specializes in providing legal services to high-tech startups. He is the sponsor of House Bill 1693, which seeks to attract entrepeneurs to Washington state by offering a business-tax break to new companies in targeted sectors of the economy.

Read this story in Spanish.

New House Democrats starting early

Eight newly-elected Democratic House members arrived at the Capitol this morning to begin orientation. 

Although they don't officially start their new jobs until they are sworn in January 14, they are meeting with staff to talk about setting up their offices, hiring their legislative assistants, and other behind-the-scenes details.  Later today they will have a working lunch with Speaker Frank Chopp and Majority Leader Pat Sullivan before heading to their first caucus meeting.

Those attending are:

• Marcus Riccelli, District 3, Spokane
• Steve Bergquist, District 11, Renton
• Jake Fey, District 27, Tacoma
• David Sawyer, District 29, Tacoma
• Roger Freeman, District 30, Federal Way
• Gael Tarleton, District 36, Seattle
• Jessyn Farrell, District 46, Seattle
• Cyrus Habib, District 48, Bellevue

Dawn Morrell from Puyallup, newly-elected in the 25th District, was unable to attend. Monica Stonier is still leading in the 17th District, but those numbers are not yet final.

To read this story in Spanish, please click  here.