Hearings((,))and informal interviews ((and document reviews)) held under this chapter shall be conducted by a presiding officer who shall be delegated the authority to conduct such hearings((, informal document reviews)) and informal interviews by the director. The presiding officer shall have the powers and duties provided by chapter 34.05 RCW, and may be authorized by the director to make final determinations regarding the issuance, denial, cancellation, or suspension or revocation of a driver's license or a nonresident's privilege to drive. If the presiding officer is authorized by the director to make final determinations, the decision shall be final.

If the presiding officer is not authorized to make final decisions the results shall be subject to review by the director or his ((or)), her, or their designated representative. The director or his ((or)), her, or their designated representative upon review of the records, the evidence, and the findings of the presiding officer shall promptly render his ((or)), her, or their decision sustaining, modifying, or reversing any order entered by the department.

All correspondence shall be addressed to the Department of Licensing, Hearings and Interviews Section, P.O. Box ((9030))9031, Olympia, WA 98507-((9030))9031, or sent by facsimile transmission (fax) to (((360) 664-8492, attention Hearings and Interviews Section))360-570-4950, or emailed to hearings@dol.wa.gov. Any correspondence must include the driver's full name and license number, or case number if assigned.

In the case of property damage, the provisions of the Financial Responsibility Act shall apply where the damage to the property of any one person is of an apparent extent equal to or greater than ((five hundred dollars))$1,000. In the event that this amount differs from that established by the chief of the Washington state patrol under the provisions of RCW 46.52.030, the amount established ((by the chief of the Washington state patrol shall prevail))in WAC 446-85-010.

Whenever under the Financial Responsibility Act, the department fixes the amount of the security required of any person it shall ((forthwith)) notify the person of the amount so required by mailing to the ((person at his or her))person's address ((as shown by department records))of record, a notice of security stating the amount of the security required, the date by which the security must be posted, ((which shall be not less than twenty nor more than sixty days following the date of mailing,)) and ((which notice shall contain))containing instructions ((pertaining to the filing of))on how to file the proof of financial responsibility. The date by which the security must be posted shall not be less than 20 nor more than 60 days following the date of mailing.

The department shall determine the amount of security deposit required of any person upon the basis of reports submitted, such reports to be in a form provided by the department which must be completed by the parties who sustain a loss, or their successors in interest, or upon the basis of other information or evidence received by the department which provides sufficiently specific information for the department to enter its decision concerning the amount of security with reasonable certainty: Provided, That a fatality or fatalities will create the presumption that the amount shall be for the full amount of the limit provided by RCW 46.29.090 in reference to the acceptable limits of a policy or bond. Failure to respond to a request for specific information within ((thirty))30 days will allow the department to conclude that no claim is being pursued.

(a) At the time the department mails a notice of security((, it shall also mail a notice of intent to suspend.)); or

(2) The notice of intent to suspend sent with the notice of security under subsection (1)(a) of this section shall give notice to the person required to post security of the department's intention to suspend the person's driving privilege, the effective date of such suspension to be not less than ((twenty))20 and not more than ((sixty))60 days from the date of mailing. The grounds stated in the notice shall ((be: "))communicate that failure to deposit the security ((requirements))amount and ((to)) file proof of financial responsibility((."))is the basis for the license suspension. A person receiving ((a))this notice of intent to suspend may apply for administrative ((review))relief under WAC 308-102-100. Failure to apply for administrative ((review))relief within the time limits of WAC 308-102-100 shall constitute a default and shall result in the suspension becoming effective on the date indicated on the notice of intent to suspend and the loss of the right to further administrative ((review))relief. In the event the person so notified posts the security and files proof of financial responsibility for the future within the time allowed for such purposes, no suspension shall be ((effected))affected. ((The department may extend the effective date of the suspension where it appears the person suspended has made a bona fide attempt to file proof of financial responsibility for the future within the time permitted and will in all probability be able to do so within thirty days.))

((An individual))A person that submits a written payment agreement to the department in accordance with RCW 46.29.140, waives any further review to the validity of the department's action. Any pending ((document review,)) administrative interview((,)) or formal hearing shall be canceled upon receipt of the written payment agreement.

Pursuant to WAC 10-08-230, regarding informal settlements, any person notified of the requirement of depositing security and suspension for failure to deposit security under the Financial Responsibility Act, chapter 46.29 RCW, may within ((fifteen))15 days of the date of the notice of intent to suspend his ((or)), her, or their driver's license or nonresident privilege to drive request an interview before a presiding officer. The request ((may be oral or))must be written((, but if made orally, such request must be confirmed by the person in writing within five days following such request)).

Upon receipt of a timely request for interview, the suspension shall be stayed pending the outcome of the document review or interview.

If the person does not request an interview within the time specified above, or fails to attend an interview scheduled at the person's request, said person shall have waived his ((or)), her, or their right to any further administrative remedies, including the formal hearing, and the suspension of the person's driver's license or driving privilege shall become effective. If the person shows good cause as to why they failed to appear, the default may be vacated.

The interview only applies to notices to suspend arising under WAC 308-102-020(2). The interview shall be held before a presiding officer who, in making the decision, shall consider any of the following:

(1) Oral testimony or argument offered by, for, or on behalf of the person seeking review by their legal representative;

(2) Affidavits from the individuals claiming the loss and/or from a representative of any insurance carrier that has a subrogated interest therein;

(3) Investigating officer's reports of the accident in question;

(4) Court records of convictions ((or bail forfeitures)) submitted to the department of licensing and arising out of the accident in question;

(5) The department's financial responsibility files concerning the person seeking review;

(6) Affidavits or witness testimony ((of))offered by the person seeking review; and

(7) Any other evidence relevant to the issues to be determined.

Upon conclusion of an interview the presiding officer shall make findings on the matter under consideration and shall sustain, modify, or reverse the department's notice of intention to suspend ((and/or)), address, and confirm the amount of security required. The department shall ((notify the person of the presiding officer's decision and said person's))send a copy of the presiding officer's decision (findings) with the notice of the decision and right to request a formal administrative hearing in writing by first class mail sent to the last address of record((. A copy of the presiding officer's findings shall be sent to the person with the notice of the decision and right to a formal hearing)), or email, provided the driver or their legal representative has consented to electronic receipt of the interview decision. Upon receipt of a timely request for formal hearing the order for the deposit of security and suspension for failure to deposit security shall ((be))remain stayed pending the results of the hearing.

(1) Any person ((who is aggrieved by the interview of the department)) may request a formal hearing ((on the matter))if they disagree with the presiding officer's decision following an administrative interview. The request for formal hearing must be in writing and must be addressed to the department of licensing and postmarked within ((fifteen))15 days following the mailing of the decision of the department to the person or the notices of suspension for failure to satisfy a judgment. Failure to make timely request for a formal hearing to the department shall be considered a withdrawal of the person's request for adjudicative proceedings and shall result in a waiver of the person's right to such hearing and the decision of the department shall become final.

(2) If a timely request for a formal hearing is made, the department shall notify the person of the time of such hearing in writing, and mail such notice to the person's last address of record, at least ((twenty))10 days in advance of the hearing date. In accordance with RCW 34.05.449(3), the hearing shall be by telephone or other electronic means. ((If in the discretion of the presiding officer an in-person hearing is necessary, the hearing shall be held within a reasonable distance of the county wherein the person resides, or, if the person is a nonresident of Washington, in the county where the accident occurred.)) The notice shall include the information required by RCW 34.05.434(2).

(1) Only the following issues shall be considered at any formal hearing held on request of a person for failing to deposit sufficient security funds:

(((1)))(a) Whether the person was the owner or driver of any motor vehicle of a type subject to registration under the motor vehicle laws of this state which was in any manner involved in an accident within this state;

(((2)))(b) Whether the accident resulted in bodily injury or death of any person or damage to the property of any one person in an amount meeting or exceeding the property damage threshold established by WAC 308-102-008;

(((3)))(c) Whether there is a reasonable possibility of a judgment being entered against the person in the amount required by the order of the department fixing such security;

(((4)))(d) Whether the amount of security to be deposited, if any, is sufficient to satisfy any judgment or judgments resulting from such accident as may be recovered against the person, not to exceed the amount listed in chapter 46.29 RCW; and

(((5)))(e) Whether the person is entitled to an exception to the requirement of security pursuant to RCW 46.29.080.

For the purposes of WAC 308-102-250(((3)))(1)(c), the department may presume that there is a reasonable possibility of a judgment being entered against a person if:

(1) The person was convicted of ((or forfeited bail for)) a traffic violation arising out of the accident((,)); or

(2) A law enforcement officer investigating the accident completed a report which specified that a violation of a rule of the road contributed to the accident regardless of whether a citation was issued((,)); or

(3) The person was negligent, having committed an act which a reasonably careful and prudent person would not have done under the same or similar circumstances, or failed to act in a way which a reasonably careful and prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances, and such act or omission was a proximate cause of the accident.

(1) The presiding officer, in making his ((or)), her, or their decision at the formal hearing held on request of a person for failing to deposit security, shall consider:

(((1)))(a) Evidence as allowed under RCW 34.05.452;

(((2)))(b) Court records of convictions ((or bail forfeitures)) submitted to the department of licensing and arising out of the accident in question;

(((3)))(c) Traffic collision reports completed by a police officer who investigated the accident, all reports and other information submitted to the department by the individual(s) who sustained the loss or the insurance carrier who has a subrogated interest therein, records and documents in the possession of the department of which it desires to avail itself, repair estimates, repair and medical bills, towing bills and any other reasonable accounting of a loss proximately arising from an accident or photocopies thereof; and

(((4)))(d) Any other evidence related to the issues before the hearing which have probative value commonly accepted by reasonable, prudent persons in the conduct of their affairs.

In the event that a final default order is entered against the person who requested a formal hearing pursuant to this chapter ((fails to appear at the time and place of the scheduled hearing)), no hearing shall be held. The case shall be remanded to the department, and the previous department order requiring security shall be affirmed: Provided, That the presiding officer:

(1) May consider evidence as to whether the amount of security to be deposited is sufficient to satisfy any judgment or judgments as may be recovered against the person, and may adjust the amount of security required accordingly; or

(2) Determine whether the department received the certificates required by RCW 46.39.330, and if not, may enter a decision to cancel the suspension.

At the conclusion of the formal hearing, the presiding officer shall, as soon as practical, ((make and enter))issue findings of fact, conclusions of law, and enter an order as provided by RCW 34.05.461.

If the order of the department is affirmed, the department shall suspend the driver's license or nonresident driving privilege of the person required to deposit security or satisfy judgment, but the order of suspension shall carry an effective date of ((thirty))30 days after the date of mailing, during which time the person may comply with the terms of the order.

If the order of the department is reversed, the department shall cancel its previous order.

If the order of the department is modified, the department shall ((nonetheless)) suspend the driver's license or nonresident driving privilege of the person required to deposit security, but the order of suspension shall carry an effective date of ((thirty))30 days after the date of mailing, during which time the person may comply with the terms of the order.

Petitions for reconsideration, as provided by RCW 34.05.470, shall be filed with the presiding officer within ((ten))10 days of service of the final order. The department is deemed to have denied the petition for reconsideration if, within ((twenty))20 days from the date the petition is filed, the department does not either: (a) Dispose of the petition; or (b) serve the parties with a written notice specifying the date by which it will act on the petition.