FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 415

                                  C 181 L 87

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Dellwo, Padden, Walk, P. King and Amondson)

Authorizing approved alcohol/drug treatment agencies to obtain driving records.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Licensing maintains a case record on every driver licensed in the state of Washington.  This record consists of all convictions and findings of traffic infractions certified by the courts, together with a record of each accident reported relating to such individual with a brief statement of the cause of the accident.

The case record is maintained in two parts.  One part, referred to as the "employment driving record," contains information relating to accidents, motor vehicle law convictions and findings of traffic infractions committed while the person was operating a commercial motor vehicle as either an owner-operator or as an employee of another.  The second part of the case record, commonly referred to as a "personal driving record," contains all other accidents, convictions and findings that the person has committed a traffic infraction.

Upon a conviction for driving while intoxicated a person is required either to complete a course in an alcohol information school, or to undergo more intensive treatment in a program approved by the Department of Social and Health Services.  The court makes this decision based on a diagnostic evaluation and treatment recommendation prepared by an alcoholism agency approved by the Department of Social and Health Services.

The Department of Licensing is not authorized to release an individual's personal or employment driving record directly to an alcoholism treatment agency.  This information is thought to be highly relevant in the agency's evaluation of the individual's possible alcohol related problems.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Licensing is specifically authorized to release an individual's personal and employment driving record to an alcohol/drug assessment or treatment agency approved by the Department of Social and Health Services to which the individual has applied or been assigned for evaluation or treatment.  This record may cover a period of not more than five years.

City attorneys and county prosecutors are also authorized to release an individual's driving record to an approved alcohol/drug treatment agency.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 97   0

      Senate    42     0

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987