HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1195

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Transportation Policy & Budget

Title:  An act relating to proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation.

Brief Description:  Requiring proof of auto insurance to drivers' license examiners.

Sponsors:  Representatives Robertson, Schoesler, Dunshee, Sterk, Scott, K. Schmidt, Buck, Smith, Delvin, Hickel, Carlson, Hatfield, DeBolt, Dunn and Mulliken.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation Policy & Budget:  2/12/97, 2/24/97 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY & BUDGET

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Mielke, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Blalock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Buck; Chandler; Constantine; DeBolt; Hatfield; Johnson; Murray; O'Brien; Ogden; Radcliff; Robertson; Romero; Scott; Skinner; Sterk; Wood and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Cairnes.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305).

Background:  RCW 46.30.020 provides that no person may operate a motor vehicle unless insured under a motor vehicle liability policy, self-insured, covered by a certificate of deposit, or covered by a liability bond.

Currently, written proof of financial responsibility, in the form of an insurance identification card, must be provided at the request of a law enforcement officer. Failure to display an insurance identification card creates a presumption that the person does not have motor vehicle insurance and is a traffic infraction.  Providing false evidence of financial responsibility is a misdemeanor.

Prior to the road test portion of a driver's license examination, the Department of Licensing requires applicants to sign an affidavit attesting that they meet the financial responsibility requirements of RCW 46.30.020.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Written proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation must be provided upon request of a licensing service representative in the course of his or her official duties.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The obsolete term Adriver=s license examiner@ is replaced with Alicensing service representative.@

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The law already requires proof of financial responsibility to drive a car. However, this bill is needed so that licensing service representatives can be assured that applicants are properly insured prior to the road test.

Testimony Against:  Mere display of an insurance card does not demonstrate that the coverage is currently valid.  There are no provisions in the bill that allow the Department of Licensing to restrict a person from taking a drive test in the event that they are unable to display proof of insurance.

Testified:  Jan Coolidge, Department of Licensing (concerns); Joe Daniels, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 17 (pro); and Captain Marsh Pugh, Washington State Patrol (pro).