H-3193              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1384

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representative Smitherman

Prefiled with Chief Clerk 1/10/86.  Read first time 1/13/86 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to instruction permits; and amending RCW 46.20.055.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 10, chapter 260, Laws of 1981 as amended by section 1, chapter 234, Laws of 1985 and RCW 46.20.055 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Any person who is at least fifteen and a half years of age may apply to the department for an instruction permit for the operation of any motor vehicle except a motorcycle.  Any person who is at least sixteen years of age may apply for an instruction permit for the operation of a motorcycle.  The department may in its discretion, after the applicant has successfully passed all parts of the examination other than the driving test, issue to the applicant a driver's or motorcyclist's instruction permit.

          (a) A driver's instruction permit entitles the permittee while having the permit in immediate possession, and while secured in an occupant restraint system, to drive a motor vehicle upon the public highways for a period of one year when accompanied by a licensed driver who has had at least five years of driving experience and is occupying a seat beside the driver.  Except as provided in subsection (c) of this subsection, only one additional permit, valid for one year, may be issued.

          (b) A motorcyclist's instruction permit entitles the permittee while having the permit in immediate possession to drive a motorcycle upon the public highways for a period of ninety days as provided in RCW 46.20.510(3).  Except as provided in subsection (c) of this subsection, only one additional permit, valid for ninety days, may be issued.

          (c) The department after investigation may issue a third driver's or motorcyclist's instruction permit when it finds that the permittee is diligently seeking to improve driving proficiency.

          (2) The department upon receiving proper application may in its discretion issue a driver's instruction permit effective for a school semester or other restricted period to an applicant who is at least fifteen years of age and is enrolled in a traffic safety education program which includes practice driving and which is approved and accredited by the superintendent of public instruction.  Such instruction permit shall entitle the permittee having the permit in immediate possession, and while secured in an occupant restraint system, to drive a motor vehicle only when an approved instructor or other licensed driver with at least five years of driving experience, is occupying a seat beside the permittee.

          (3) The department may in its discretion issue a temporary driver's permit to an applicant for a driver's license permitting the applicant to drive a motor vehicle for a period not to exceed sixty days while the department is completing its investigation and determination of all facts relative to such applicant's right to receive a driver's license.  Such permit must be in the permittee's immediate possession while driving a motor vehicle, and it shall be invalid when the permittee's license has been issued or for good cause has been refused.