S-4050.1          _______________________________________________

                          SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 6129

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, Vognild and McCaslin)

Read first time 2/11/92.Requiring new residents to register their vehicles before getting a driver's license.

     AN ACT Relating to issuance of drivers' licenses to new residents; and amending RCW 46.20.031.

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

     Sec. 1.  RCW 46.20.031 and 1985 c 101 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

     The department shall not issue a driver's license hereunder:

     (1) To any person who is under the age of sixteen years;

     (2) To any person whose license has been suspended during such suspension, nor to any person whose license has been revoked, except as provided in RCW 46.20.311;

     (3) To any person when the department has been notified by a court that such person has violated his written promise to appear in court, unless the department has received a certificate from the court in which such person promised to appear, showing that the case has been adjudicated.  The deposit of bail by a person charged with a violation of any law regulating the operation of motor vehicles on highways shall be deemed an appearance in court for the purpose of this section;

     (4) To any person who has been evaluated by a program approved by the department of social and health services as being an alcoholic, drug addict, alcohol abuser and/or drug abuser:  PROVIDED, That a license may be issued if the department determines that such person has been granted a deferred prosecution, pursuant to chapter 10.05 RCW, or is satisfactorily participating in or has successfully completed an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program approved by the department of social and health services and has established control of his or her alcohol and/or drug abuse problem;

     (5) To any person who has previously been adjudged to be mentally ill or insane, or to be incompetent due to any mental disability or disease, and who has not at the time of application been restored to competency by the methods provided by law:  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That no person so adjudged shall be denied a license for such cause if the superior court should find him able to operate a motor vehicle with safety upon the highways during such incompetency;

     (6) To any person who is required by this chapter to take an examination, unless such person shall have successfully passed such examination;

     (7) To any person who is required under the laws of this state to deposit proof of financial responsibility and who has not deposited such proof;

     (8) To any person when the department has good and substantial evidence to reasonably conclude that such person by reason of physical or mental disability would not be able to operate a motor vehicle with safety upon the highways; subject to review by a court of competent jurisdiction;

(9) To a person who is a new resident of this state unless the person has registered or accounted for all vehicles previously registered in the person's previous state of residence.  The department shall adopt rules that will govern the process described in this subsection and exempt nonresident military personnel.