HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 280

BYRepresentatives Heavey, Schmidt and Walk; by request of Department of Licensing

Changing provisions relating to the suspension of a driver's license for failure to report an accident.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (25)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Kremen, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Vekich, J. Williams, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Terry Michalson (786-7315)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 13, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Accident reports must be filed with the Department of Licensing within twenty-four hours of its occurrence.  The driver of any vehicle involved in any personal injury or death or property damage of three hundred dollars or more is responsible to report to the appropriate law enforcement agency on the particulars of the accident.  If the accident is not investigated by a law enforcement officer, a report must be filed with the Washington State Patrol and a copy forwarded to the Department of Licensing.

Driver's licenses, permits or driving privileges for nonresidents must be suspended for failure to report an accident until the report is filed.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Licensing is granted discretion over whether to suspend a driver's license, permit or nonresident driving privileges for failure to file an accident report.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Don Bonner, Department of Licensing.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The director needs the authorization to review the conditions as to why an accident report was not filed with the department without having to automatically suspend a person's driver's license.  Some cases have reasonable arguments which do not warrant the suspension of the driver's license.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.