S-0893.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                 SENATE BILL 5515

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Senators Vognild, Madsen and Talmadge.

 

Read first time February 4, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.Requiring a certain grade-point average for a driver's license applicant under eighteen.


     AN ACT Relating to driver's licenses for persons under eighteen; and amending RCW 46.20.100.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 46.20.100 and 1990 c 250 s 36 are each amended to read as follows:

     The department of licensing shall not consider an application of any minor under the age of eighteen years for a driver's license or the issuance of a motorcycle endorsement for a particular category unless:

     (1) The application is also signed by a parent or guardian having the custody of such minor, or in the event a minor under the age of eighteen has no father, mother, or guardian, then a driver's license shall not be issued to the minor unless his or her application is also signed by the minor's employer; ((and))

     (2) The applicant produces proof satisfactory to the department of having achieved a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale for the most recent grade report issued by the applicant's secondary school; and

     (3) The applicant has satisfactorily completed a traffic safety education course as defined in RCW 28A.220.020, conducted by a recognized secondary school, that meets the standards established by the office of the state superintendent of public instruction or the applicant has satisfactorily completed a traffic safety education course, conducted by a commercial driving instruction enterprise, that meets the standards established by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and is officially approved by that office on an annual basis: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the director may upon a showing that an applicant was unable to take or complete a driver education course waive that requirement if the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the department that a need exists for the applicant to operate a motor vehicle and he or she has the ability to operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property, under rules to be promulgated by the department in concert with the supervisor of the traffic safety education section, office of the superintendent of public instruction.  For a person under the age of eighteen years to obtain a motorcycle endorsement, he or she must successfully complete a motorcycle safety education course that meets the standards established by the department of licensing.

     The department may waive any education requirement under this subsection for an applicant previously licensed to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle outside this state if the applicant provides proof satisfactory to the department that he or she has had education equivalent to that required under this subsection.