City Council to Hold Hearings on Parking, Traffic Issues

Council Member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) has scheduled a couple of interesting public hearings this week in the City Council Chamber. The public hearings are held in the Council of the District of Columbia Chamber, at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Now is the time for you to let Ms. Schwartz (724-8105) and Council Member Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6, 724-8072) know your thoughts about these matters.

Monday, 6 p.m.

Agenda items:

1. "Parking Meter Fee Moratorium Act of 2003," Bill 15-220. To impose a parking meter fee moratorium all day Saturday and on other days between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

2. "Traffic Adjudication Appeal Fee Amendment Act of 2003," Bill 15-211. To amend the District of Columbia Traffic Adjudication Act of 1978, and Title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations to provide for a refund of the fee for appealing a notice of traffic infraction to a person who prevails in an appeal.

3. "Parking Limitation for Out of State Vehicles Amendment Act of 2003," Bill 15-90. To amend Title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations to limit the period of time vehicles with out of state license plates may park on a roadway to no more than 24 consecutive hours.

4. "Parking Ticket Adjudication Hearing Amendment Act of 2003," Bill 15-141. To amend the District of Columbia Traffic Adjudication Act of 1978 to give hearing officers the discretion to determine whether to require the appearance of the issuer of a parking ticket at the hearing on the violation.

5. "Parking Amendment Act of 2003," Bill 14-412. To prohibit the parking of motor vehicles on public space for more than 72 hours or in the front yard on private property, to give property owners a claim of title on abandoned and/or dangerous vehicles impounded from their property with their consent, and to require that motor vehicle auctioneers maintain a record of vehicles sold by vehicle identification number and purchase

Wednesday, 10 a.m.

1. "Mobile Telephone Driving Safety Act of 2003," Bill 15-35. To enhance driving safety by restricting the use of hand-held telephones and other electronic devices by operators of moving motor vehicles by requiring the Metropolitan Police Department to include on motor vehicle accident reports information about the possible use of hand-held telephones by drivers involved in the accident, by requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to publish statistics regarding the relationship between motor vehicle accidents and the use of mobile telephones, and by increasing public dialogue and education about distracted driving.

2. "Rights-of-Way at Crosswalks Amendment Act of 2003," Bill 15-43. To amend the District of Columbia Official Code 50-2201.28 to stop vehicles from passing a crosswalk when a pedestrian is crossing a roadway.

3. "Responsible Use of Cell Phones Act of 2003," Bill 15-44. To enhance driving safety by restricting the use of hand-held telephones by operators of moving motor vehicles, by providing penalties for the violations, by requiring the Metropolitan Police Department to include on motor vehicle accident reports information about the possible use of hand-held telephones by drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents, by requiring the Mayor to submit an annual report to the Council concerning motor vehicle safety and by increasing public dialogue and education about distracted driving, and by banning the use of cell phones by school bus drivers; and to amend Title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations to conform to the penalties provided under this act.

4. "Automated Traffic Enforcement Amendment Act of 2003," Bill 15-49. To require the Mayor to reevaluate the speed limit on various streets of the District of Columbia and to require that any fines from such a system be allocated to the Highway Trust Fund. §