Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill on Tuesday that allows judges to hold negligent drivers more accountable.  House Bill 1112, authored by 17th District Rep. Paul Harris, will allow judges, at their discretion, to impose criminal penalties for negligent driving involving the death of a vulnerable victim. It also creates a gross misdemeanor offense of negligent driving with a vulnerable victim in the first degree.  HB 1112 allows judges to find people guilty of an offense when they operate a vehicle in a manner that is both negligent and endangers, or is likely to endanger, any person or property and causes the death of someone using a public way.  Under the new law, a judge can punish an offender with up to 364 days of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, and suspension of driving privileges for 90 days.  The bill is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.