Z-0643.1/91       _______________________________________________

 

                                 SENATE BILL 5266

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Senators Thorsness, McMullen, Owen and A. Smith. 

 

Read first time January 25, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.Restructuring penalties for driving while suspended.


     AN ACT Relating to motor vehicles; amending RCW 7.68.035, 46.16.710, 46.20.021, 46.20.207, 46.20.291, 46.65.020, 46.90.300, and 46.90.300; reenacting and amending RCW 46.20.342; repealing RCW 46.29.625 and 46.65.090; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 7.68.035 and 1989 c 252 s 29 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) Whenever any person is found guilty in any superior court of having committed a crime, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, there shall be imposed by the court upon such convicted person a penalty assessment.  The assessment shall be in addition to any other penalty or fine imposed by law and shall be one hundred dollars for each case or cause of action that includes one or more convictions of a felony or gross misdemeanor and seventy-five dollars for any case or cause of action that includes convictions of only one or more misdemeanors.

     (2) The assessment imposed by subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to motor vehicle crimes defined in Title 46 RCW except those defined in the following sections:  RCW 46.61.520, 46.61.522, 46.61.024, 46.52.090, 46.70.140, ((46.65.090,)) 46.61.502, 46.61.504, 46.52.100, 46.20.410, 46.52.020, 46.10.130, 46.09.130, 46.61.525, 46.61.685, 46.61.530, 46.61.500, 46.61.015, 46.52.010, 46.44.180, 46.10.090(2), and 46.09.120(2).

     (3) Whenever any person accused of having committed a crime posts bail in superior court pursuant to the provisions of chapter 10.19 RCW and such bail is forfeited, there shall be deducted from the proceeds of such forfeited bail a penalty assessment, in addition to any other penalty or fine imposed by law, equal to the assessment which would be applicable under subsection (1) of this section if the person had been convicted of the crime.

     (4) Such penalty assessments shall be paid by the clerk of the superior court to the county treasurer who shall monthly transmit the money as provided in RCW 10.82.070.  Each county shall deposit not less than one and seventy-five one-hundredths percent of the money it retains under RCW 10.82.070 and chapter 3.62 RCW and all money it receives under subsection (8) of this section into a fund maintained exclusively for the support of comprehensive programs to encourage and facilitate testimony by the victims of crimes and witnesses to crimes.  A program shall be considered "comprehensive" only after approval of the department upon application by the county prosecuting attorney.  The department shall approve as comprehensive only programs which:

     (a) Provide comprehensive services to victims and witnesses of all types of crime with particular emphasis on serious crimes against persons and property.  It is the intent of the legislature to make funds available only to programs which do not restrict services to victims or witnesses of a particular type or types of crime and that such funds supplement, not supplant, existing local funding levels;

     (b) Are administered by the county prosecuting attorney either directly through the prosecuting attorney's office or by contract between the county and agencies providing services to victims of crime;

     (c) Make a reasonable effort to inform the known victim or his surviving dependents of the existence of this chapter and the procedure for making application for benefits;

     (d) Assist victims in the restitution and adjudication process; and

     (e) Assist victims of violent crimes in the preparation and presentation of their claims to the department of labor and industries under this chapter.

       Before a program in any county west of the Cascade mountains is submitted to the department for approval, it shall be submitted for review and comment to each city within the county with a population of more than one hundred fifty thousand.  The department will consider if the county's proposed comprehensive plan meets the needs of crime victims in cases adjudicated in municipal, district or superior courts and of crime victims located within the city and county.

     (5) Upon submission to the department of a letter of intent to adopt a comprehensive program, the prosecuting attorney shall retain the money deposited by the county under subsection (4) of this section until such time as the county prosecuting attorney has obtained approval of a program from the department.  Approval of the comprehensive plan by the department must be obtained within one year of the date of the letter of intent to adopt a comprehensive program.  The county prosecuting attorney shall not make any expenditures from the money deposited under subsection (4) of this section until approval of a comprehensive plan by the department.  If a county prosecuting attorney has failed to obtain approval of a program from the department under subsection (4) of this section or failed to obtain approval of a comprehensive program within one year after submission of a letter of intent under this section, the county treasurer shall monthly transmit one hundred percent of the money deposited by the county under subsection (4) of this section to the state treasurer for deposit in the public safety and education account established under RCW 43.08.250.

     (6) County prosecuting attorneys are responsible to make every reasonable effort to insure that the penalty assessments of this chapter are imposed and collected.

     (7) Penalty assessments under this section shall also be imposed in juvenile offense dispositions under Title 13 RCW.  Upon motion of a party and a showing of good cause, the court may modify the penalty assessment in the disposition of juvenile offenses under Title 13 RCW.

     (8) Every city and town shall transmit monthly one and seventy-five one-hundredths percent of all money, other than money received for parking infractions, retained under RCW 3.46.120, 3.50.100, and 35.20.220 to the county treasurer for deposit as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 46.16.710 and 1987 c 388 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) At the time of arrest for a violation of RCW 46.20.021, 46.20.342(1), or 46.20.420, ((or 46.65.090,)) the arresting officer shall confiscate the Washington state vehicle registration of the vehicle being driven by the arrested person.  The officer shall mark the vehicle's Washington state license plates in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Washington state patrol.  Marked license plates shall be clearly distinguishable from any other authorized plates.  Upon confiscation of the vehicle registration, the arresting officer shall, on behalf of the department, serve notice in accordance with RCW 46.16.730 of the department's intention to cancel the vehicle registration in accordance with RCW 46.16.720.  The officer shall immediately replace any confiscated vehicle registration with a temporary registration that expires sixty days after the arrest, or at the time the department's cancellation is sustained at a hearing conducted under RCW 46.16.740, whichever occurs first.  The provisions of this subsection may be used only when the arresting officer has determined that the arrested driver is a registered owner of the vehicle.

     (2) After confiscation under subsection (1) of this section, the arresting officer shall promptly transmit to the department, together with the confiscated vehicle registration, a sworn report indicating that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe that the arrested driver was driving in violation of RCW 46.20.342(1).

     (3) Any officer who sees a vehicle being operated with marked license plates may stop the vehicle for the sole purpose of ascertaining whether the driver of the vehicle is operating it in violation of RCW 46.20.021, 46.20.342, or 46.20.420((, or 46.65.090)).  Nothing in this section prohibits the arrest of a person for an offense if an officer has probable cause to believe the person has committed the offense.

 

     Sec. 3.  RCW 46.20.021 and 1990 c 250 s 33 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) No person, except as expressly exempted by this chapter, may drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver's license issued under the provisions of this chapter.  A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor and is a lesser included offense within the offenses described in RCW 46.20.342(1)((,)) or 46.20.420((, and 46.65.090)).

     (2) No person shall receive a driver's license unless and until he or she surrenders to the department all valid driver's licenses in his or her possession issued to him or her by any other jurisdiction.  The department shall establish a procedure to invalidate the surrendered photograph license and return it to the person.  The invalidated license, along with the valid temporary Washington driver's license provided for in RCW 46.20.055(3), shall be accepted as proper identification.  The department shall notify the issuing department that the licensee is now licensed in a new jurisdiction.  No person shall be permitted to have more than one valid driver's license at any time.

     (3) Any person licensed as a driver under this chapter may exercise the privilege thereby granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise such privilege by any county, municipal or local board, or body having authority to adopt local police regulations.

 

     Sec. 4.  RCW 46.20.207 and 1965 ex.s. c 121 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) The department is ((hereby)) authorized to cancel any driver's license upon determining that the licensee was not entitled to the issuance ((thereof hereunder)) of the license, or that ((said)) the licensee failed to give the required or correct information in his or her application, or that the licensee is incompetent to drive a motor vehicle for any of the reasons under RCW 46.20.031(5) and (8).

     (2) Upon such cancellation, the licensee must surrender the license so canceled to the department.

 

     Sec. 5.  RCW 46.20.291 and 1980 c 128 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

     (((1))) The department is ((hereby)) authorized to suspend the license of a driver upon a showing by its records or other sufficient evidence that the licensee:

     (((a))) (1) Has committed an offense for which mandatory revocation or suspension of license is provided by law;

     (((b))) (2) Has, by reckless or unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused or contributed to an accident resulting in death or injury to any person or serious property damage;

     (((c))) (3) Has been convicted of offenses against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles, or found to have committed traffic infractions, with such frequency as to indicate a disrespect for traffic laws or a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highways;

     (((d))) (4) Is incompetent to drive a motor vehicle for any of the reasons enumerated in subsection((s)) (4)((, (5) and (8))) of RCW 46.20.031; or

     (((e))) (5) Has committed one of the prohibited practices relating to drivers' licenses defined in RCW 46.20.336.

 

     Sec. 6.  RCW 46.20.342 and 1990 c 250 s 47 and 1990 c 210 s 5 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

     (1) It is unlawful for any person ((who)) to drive((s)) a motor vehicle in this state while that person is in a suspended or revoked status or when his or her privilege ((so)) to ((do)) drive is suspended or revoked in this or any other state ((or when his or her policy of insurance or bond, when required under this title, has been canceled or terminated, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, except that)) .  Any person who has a valid Washington driver's license is not guilty of a violation of this section.

     (a) A person found to be an habitual offender under chapter 46.65 RCW, who violates this section while an order of revocation issued under chapter 46.65 RCW prohibiting such operation is in effect, is guilty of driving while license suspended or revoked in the first degree, a gross misdemeanor.  Upon the first such conviction, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten days.  Upon the second conviction, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ninety days.  Upon the third or subsequent conviction, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year.  If the person is also convicted of the offense defined in RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, when both convictions arise from the same event, the minimum sentence of confinement shall be not less than ninety days.  The minimum sentence of confinement required shall not be suspended or deferred.  A conviction under this subsection does not prevent a person from petitioning for reinstatement as provided by RCW 46.65.080.

     (b) A person who violates this section while an order of suspension or revocation prohibiting such operation is in effect and while the person is not eligible to reinstate his or her driver's license or driving privilege, other than for a suspension for the reasons described in (c) of this subsection, is guilty of driving while license suspended or revoked in the second degree, a gross misdemeanor.  This subsection applies when a person's driver's license or driving privilege has been suspended or revoked by reason of:

     (i) A conviction of a felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used;

     (ii) A previous conviction under this section;

     (iii) A notice received by the department from a court or diversion unit as provided by RCW 46.20.265, relating to a minor who has committed, or who has entered a diversion unit concerning an offense relating to alcohol, legend drugs, controlled substances, or imitation controlled substances;

     (iv) A conviction of RCW 46.20.410, relating to the violation of restrictions of an occupational driver's license;

     (v) A conviction of RCW 46.20.420, relating to the operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license;

     (vi) A conviction of RCW 46.52.020, relating to duty in case of injury to or death of a person or damage to an attended vehicle;

     (vii) A conviction of RCW 46.61.024, relating to attempting to elude pursuing police vehicles;

     (viii) A conviction of RCW 46.61.500, relating to reckless driving;

     (ix) A conviction of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, relating to a person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;

     (x) A conviction of RCW 46.61.520, relating to vehicular homicide;

     (xi) A conviction of RCW 46.61.522, relating to vehicular assault;

     (xii) A conviction of RCW 46.61.530, relating to racing of vehicles on highways;

     (xiii) A conviction of RCW 46.61.685, relating to leaving children in an unattended vehicle with motor running;

     (xiv) A conviction of RCW 46.64.048, relating to attempting, aiding, abetting, coercing, and committing crimes; or

     (xv) An administrative action taken by the department under chapter 46.20 RCW.

     (c) A person who violates this section when his or her driver's license or driving privilege is, at the time of the violation, suspended or revoked solely because (i) the person must furnish proof of satisfactory progress in a required alcoholism or drug treatment program, (ii) the person must furnish proof of financial responsibility for the future as provided by chapter 46.29 RCW, (iii) the person has failed to comply with the provisions of chapter 46.29 RCW relating to uninsured accidents, or (iv) the person has committed an offense in another state that, if committed in this state, would not be grounds for the suspension or revocation of the person's driver's license, or any combination of (i) through (iv), is guilty of driving while license suspended or revoked in the third degree, a misdemeanor.

     (2) ((Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,)) Upon receiving a record of conviction of any person or upon receiving an order by any juvenile court or any duly authorized court officer of the conviction of any juvenile under this section ((upon a charge of driving a vehicle while the license or privilege of the person is under suspension, the department shall extend the period of the suspension for an additional like period and if the conviction was upon a charge of driving while a license was revoked)), the department shall:

     (a) For a conviction of driving while revoked in the first degree, as provided by subsection (1)(a) of this section, extend the period of administrative revocation imposed under chapter 46.65 RCW for an additional period of one year from and after the date the person would otherwise have been entitled to apply for a new license or have his or her driving privilege restored; or

     (b) For a conviction of driving while suspended or revoked in the second degree, as provided by subsection (1)(b) of this section, not issue a new license or restore the driving privilege for an additional period of one year from and after the date the person would otherwise have been entitled to apply for a new license or have his or her driving privilege restored((.  The department shall)); or

     (c) Not ((so)) extend the period of suspension or revocation if the conviction was under subsection (1)(c) of this section or if the conviction was under subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section and the court recommends against the extension and((:

     (a))) the convicted person has obtained a valid driver's license((; or

     (b) The department determines that the convicted person has demonstrated proof of future financial responsibility as provided for in chapter 46.29 RCW, and, if the suspension or revocation was the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, that the person is making satisfactory progress in any required alcoholism treatment program)).

 

     Sec. 7.  RCW 46.65.020 and 1983 c 164 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

     As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, an habitual offender means any person, resident or nonresident, who has accumulated convictions or findings that the person committed a traffic infraction as defined in RCW 46.20.270, or, if a minor, has violations recorded with the department of licensing, for separate and distinct offenses as described in either subsection (1) or (2) below committed within a five-year period, as evidenced by the records maintained in the department of licensing:  PROVIDED, That where more than one described offense is committed within a six-hour period such multiple offenses shall, on the first such occasion, be treated as one offense for the purposes of this chapter:

     (1) Three or more convictions, singularly or in combination, of the following offenses:

     (a) Vehicular homicide as defined in RCW 46.61.520;

     (b) Vehicular assault as defined in RCW 46.61.522;

     (c) Driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants or drugs;

     (d) Driving a motor vehicle while his or her license, permit, or privilege to drive has been suspended or revoked as defined in RCW 46.20.342(1);

     (e) Failure of the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury or death of any person or damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person to immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible and to forthwith return to and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of RCW 46.52.020;

     (f) Reckless driving as defined in RCW 46.61.500;

     (g) Being in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug as defined in RCW 46.61.504; or

     (h) Attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle as defined in RCW 46.61.024;

     (2) Twenty or more convictions or findings that the person committed a traffic infraction for separate and distinct offenses, singularly or in combination, in the operation of a motor vehicle that are required to be reported to the department of licensing other than the offenses of driving with an expired driver's license and not having a driver's license in the operator's immediate possession.  Such convictions or findings shall include those for offenses enumerated in subsection (1) of this section when taken with and added to those offenses described herein but shall not include convictions or findings for any nonmoving violation.  No person may be considered an habitual offender under this subsection unless at least three convictions have occurred within the three hundred sixty-five days immediately preceding the last conviction.

     The offenses included in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are deemed to include offenses under any valid town, city, or county ordinance substantially conforming to the provisions cited in subsections (1) and (2) or amendments thereto, and any federal law, or any law of another state, including subdivisions thereof, substantially conforming to the aforesaid state statutory provisions.

 

     Sec. 8.  RCW 46.90.300 and 1990 c 250 s 78 are each amended to read as follows:

     The following sections of the Revised Code of Washington as now or hereafter amended are hereby adopted by reference as a part of this chapter in all respects as though such sections were set forth herein in full:  RCW 46.12.070, 46.12.080, 46.12.101, 46.12.102, 46.12.260, 46.12.300, 46.12.310, 46.12.320, 46.12.330, 46.12.340, 46.12.350, 46.12.380, 46.16.010, 46.16.011, 46.16.025, 46.16.028, 46.16.030, 46.16.088, 46.16.135, 46.16.140, 46.16.145, 46.16.170, 46.16.180, 46.16.240, 46.16.260, 46.16.290, 46.16.381, 46.16.390, 46.16.500, 46.16.505, 46.16.710, 46.20.021, 46.20.022, 46.20.025, 46.20.027, 46.20.031, 46.20.041, 46.20.045, 46.20.190, 46.20.220, 46.20.308, 46.20.336, 46.20.342, 46.20.343, 46.20.344, 46.20.391, 46.20.394, 46.20.410, 46.20.420, 46.20.430, 46.20.435, 46.20.440, 46.20.500, 46.20.510, 46.20.550, 46.20.750, 46.29.605, ((46.29.625,)) 46.32.060, 46.32.070, 46.37.010, 46.37.020, 46.37.030, 46.37.040, 46.37.050, 46.37.060, 46.37.070, 46.37.080, 46.37.090, 46.37.100, 46.37.110, 46.37.120, 46.37.130, 46.37.140, 46.37.150, 46.37.160, 46.37.170, 46.37.180, 46.37.184, 46.37.185, 46.37.186, 46.37.187, 46.37.188, 46.37.190, 46.37.196, 46.37.200, 46.37.210, 46.37.215, 46.37.220, 46.37.230, 46.37.240, 46.37.260, 46.37.270, 46.37.280, 46.37.290, 46.37.300, 46.37.310, 46.37.340, 46.37.351, 46.37.360, 46.37.365, 46.37.369, 46.37.375, 46.37.380, 46.37.390, 46.37.400, 46.37.410, 46.37.420, 46.37.425, 46.37.430, 46.37.440, 46.37.450, 46.37.460, 46.37.465, 46.37.467, 46.37.480, 46.37.490, 46.37.500, 46.37.510, 46.37.513, 46.37.517, 46.37.520, 46.37.522, 46.37.523, 46.37.524, 46.37.525, 46.37.527, 46.37.528, 46.37.529, 46.37.530, 46.37.535, 46.37.537, 46.37.539, 46.37.540, 46.37.550, 46.37.560, 46.37.570, 46.37.590, 46.37.600, 46.37.610, 46.44.010, 46.44.020, 46.44.030, 46.44.034, 46.44.036, 46.44.037, 46.44.041, 46.44.042, 46.44.047, 46.44.050, 46.44.060, 46.44.070, 46.44.090, 46.44.091, 46.44.092, 46.44.093, 46.44.095, 46.44.096, 46.44.100, 46.44.120, 46.44.130, 46.44.140, 46.44.170, 46.44.173, 46.44.175, 46.44.180, 46.48.170, 46.52.010, 46.52.020, 46.52.030, 46.52.040, 46.52.070, 46.52.080, 46.52.088, 46.52.090, 46.52.100, ((46.65.090,)) 46.79.120, and 46.80.010.

 

     Sec. 9.  RCW 46.90.300 and 1989 c 178 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:

     The following sections of the Revised Code of Washington as now or hereafter amended are hereby adopted by reference as a part of this chapter in all respects as though such sections were set forth herein in full:  RCW 46.12.070, 46.12.080, 46.12.101, 46.12.102, 46.12.260, 46.12.300, 46.12.310, 46.12.320, 46.12.330, 46.12.340, 46.12.350, 46.12.380, 46.16.010, 46.16.011, 46.16.025, 46.16.028, 46.16.030, 46.16.088, 46.16.135, 46.16.140, 46.16.145, 46.16.170, 46.16.180, 46.16.240, 46.16.260, 46.16.290, 46.16.381, 46.16.390, 46.16.500, 46.16.505, 46.16.710, 46.20.021, 46.20.022, 46.20.025, 46.20.027, 46.20.031, 46.20.041, 46.20.045, 46.20.190, 46.20.220, 46.20.308, 46.20.336, 46.20.342, 46.20.343, 46.20.344, 46.20.391, 46.20.394, 46.20.410, 46.20.416, 46.20.420, 46.20.430, 46.20.435, 46.20.500, 46.20.510, 46.20.550, 46.20.599, 46.20.750, 46.29.605, ((46.29.625,)) 46.32.060, 46.32.070, 46.37.010, 46.37.020, 46.37.030, 46.37.040, 46.37.050, 46.37.060, 46.37.070, 46.37.080, 46.37.090, 46.37.100, 46.37.110, 46.37.120, 46.37.130, 46.37.140, 46.37.150, 46.37.160, 46.37.170, 46.37.180, 46.37.184, 46.37.185, 46.37.186, 46.37.187, 46.37.188, 46.37.190, 46.37.196, 46.37.200, 46.37.210, 46.37.215, 46.37.220, 46.37.230, 46.37.240, 46.37.260, 46.37.270, 46.37.280, 46.37.290, 46.37.300, 46.37.310, 46.37.340, 46.37.351, 46.37.360, 46.37.365, 46.37.369, 46.37.375, 46.37.380, 46.37.390, 46.37.400, 46.37.410, 46.37.420, 46.37.425, 46.37.430, 46.37.440, 46.37.450, 46.37.460, 46.37.465, 46.37.467, 46.37.480, 46.37.490, 46.37.500, 46.37.510, 46.37.513, 46.37.517, 46.37.520, 46.37.522, 46.37.523, 46.37.524, 46.37.525, 46.37.527, 46.37.528, 46.37.529, 46.37.530, 46.37.535, 46.37.537, 46.37.539, 46.37.540, 46.37.550, 46.37.560, 46.37.570, 46.37.590, 46.37.600, 46.37.610, 46.44.010, 46.44.020, 46.44.030, 46.44.034, 46.44.036, 46.44.037, 46.44.041, 46.44.042, 46.44.047, 46.44.050, 46.44.060, 46.44.070, 46.44.090, 46.44.091, 46.44.092, 46.44.093, 46.44.095, 46.44.096, 46.44.100, 46.44.120, 46.44.130, 46.44.140, 46.44.170, 46.44.173, 46.44.175, 46.44.180, 46.48.170, 46.52.010, 46.52.020, 46.52.030, 46.52.040, 46.52.070, 46.52.080, 46.52.088, 46.52.090, 46.52.100, ((46.65.090,)) 46.79.120, and 46.80.010.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.     The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

     (1) RCW 46.29.625 and 1969 ex.s. c 281 s 21; and

     (2) RCW 46.65.090 and 1990 c 210 s 7, 1985 c 302 s 8, 1979 c 62 s 6, 1977 ex.s. c 138 s 1, & 1971 ex.s. c 284 s 11.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11.     Section 9 of this act shall take effect April 1, 1992.