Traffic fines could double in deadly Highway 395 ‘crash zone’
A state measure aimed at making Highway 395 safer moved closer this week to becoming a law, and could make it more costly if people break the law.
The Washington Legislature’s Senate Transportation Committee signed off on a measure that would allow the section of Highway 395 between Pasco and Mesa to be designated as a “crash prevention zone.”
A dangerous stretch of divided highway between Pasco and Crestloch Road has claimed the lives of 12 people since 2015 and dozens of others have been hurt. The deaths have included a Kahlotus councilman and the family of a Benton County sheriff’s deputy.
The new designation would allow Franklin County, the city of Pasco and the Department of Transportation to highlight the problem area and create plans to address the underlying causes of the deadly crashes.
People found violating traffic laws in that zone would face double the fines.
That stretch of highway would be the test case for the program until 2029, when other counties, cities and the Washington State Department of Transportation can create crash prevention zones in other areas of the state.
The measure is being spearheaded by Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, after a fatal November crash sparked calls to make the Highway 395 safer.
She pointed to the most recent deadly crash that claimed the life of Perrie N. Robitaille, 77, just days before Thanksgiving. The Kahlotus councilman was part of a family with a long history of service to the rural farming community.
Legislators and local leaders held a listening session following the November crash where more than 100 people called for changes to the highway.
“Our communities are rightfully asking that something be done to prevent the next tragedy,” she told the Senate Transportation committee this week.
The measure received support from the Washington State Association of Counties, the Association of Washington Cities, Pasco officials and the Washington Counties Risk Pool.
“We think this bill is creative in a way to curb the poor behavior of drivers as well as solving some of the revenue needs to solve the problem,” said Maria Serra, Pasco’s public works director
The bill moves on to a vote by the full Senate. If passed by Feb. 17, it would move on to the House to consider.
Crash Prevention Zones
The bill initially gives any city, county, town or the Washington state Department of Transportation a zone covering the area of Highway 395 between Pasco and Mesa.
After 2029, local governments across the state will gain the ability to designate any public road marked by a “multitude of collisions” that have caused serious injuries or deaths.
Prior to creating the zone, there would need to be a public hearing when people can see and comment on a map that shows the area included in the zone.
Once it’s put in place, the group requesting the zone, would need to conduct a traffic and engineering study to determine ways to make it safer.
It also calls on the Washington State Patrol and local police to coordinate increasing enforcement in those zones.
Once created, anyone caught speeding or breaking traffic laws in the zone would pay double fines. That would be marked on road signs.
The additional money would be set aside to pay for engineering, traffic investigations, installing road signs, safety improvements or law enforcement patrols.
The zone can be dissolved once the improvements are made by the government agency that created it or by a petition of 10% of the property owners, businesses or residents in the area.
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 12:46 PM.