A set of new Washington state laws took effect on July 1, bringing changes that touch everyday drivers, work zone safety and the fast growing data center industry. The measures range from higher costs at the pump to tougher penalties for speeding past road crews.
At the gas station, drivers are now paying a little more. The state gas tax increased by 2 percent, amounting to just over a cent and bringing the total to 56.5 cents per gallon. For every 10 gallons of regular gas, the cost rises by about 11 cents, with similar increases for diesel users.
That increase is not a one time change. Under the new arrangement, the 2 percent rise will happen every year to account for inflation, meaning the fuel tax is set to keep climbing automatically in the years ahead.
Penalties for speeding in work zones also went up. Under the state transportation department's work zone speed camera program, created in 2023 with cameras placed in work zones last year, drivers caught speeding previously received a warning the first time and a 248 dollar ticket the second time.
That has now changed, with a fine of 125 dollars applying to the first offense. According to the reporting, the money collected will go back into the program itself, funding the maintenance and expansion of the work zone cameras.
The new laws also included a tax break for rural data centers, covering the sales and use tax on replacing and modernizing equipment. The measure arrives amid growing scrutiny of AI data centers, with concerns raised about issues such as their impact on the water supply and noise pollution, and it sits among several other state laws that took effect at the start of July.