SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 1757

           AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, APRIL 2, 1991

Brief Description:  Changing "driving while intoxicated" to "driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug."

SPONSORS:Representatives Ferguson, Van Luven, Heavey, D. Sommers, Dorn, Miller, R. Meyers, Paris, Hargrove, Silver, Prentice, Moyer, Betrozoff, Winsley, Horn, Chandler, Tate, Vance, Nealey, Edmondson, Fuhrman, Broback, Wynne, Ballard, Hochstatter, Jacobsen, Wineberry, Roland, Bowman, Brough and Forner.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Nelson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Erwin, Hayner, L. Kreidler, Madsen, Newhouse, Rasmussen, and A. Smith. 

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786‑7461)

Hearing Dates:April 1, 1991; April 2, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Throughout the Revised Code of Washington, there are numerous references to one who is under the influence of liquor or drugs.  However, the words used to describe that influenced state are not used consistently.  The criminal code describes an intoxicated driver as "under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug."

SUMMARY:

In various statutes, this measure replaces the word "intoxicated" with the phrase "under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug."

Technical changes are also made for organizational purposes.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill is necessary to clarify that "intoxicated" refers to a condition caused by alcohol or any drug.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Roy Ferguson, prime sponsor; Steve Lind, WTSC (pro); Pete Youngers, Washington State Council on Alcoholism (pro)