HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 5694

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to driving with an instruction permit.

Brief Description:  Lowering the age for use of an out‑of‑state license or learner's permit.

Sponsors:  Senators Snyder, Sutherland and Vognild.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 25, 1993, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Finkbeiner; Forner; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; Miller; H. Myers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307).

Background:  Current statute allows nonresidents who are at least 16 years old and possess a valid driver's license issued by their home state to drive in Washington.  Current statute is silent on the treatment of nonresidents who possess an instruction permit.

In some rural border communities, the closest urban center is in the bordering state.  As part of the secondary schools' traffic safety education courses, a student must demonstrate driving skills in both urban and rural settings.  Students in some bordering communities must drive long distances to reach an urban center within the state when a closer urban center exists across the state border.

Current practice of the Washington State Patrol is to hold persons from another state to the same statute used for Washington residents; that is, the person must be at least 15 years of age and must be accompanied by a licensed driver with five years of driving experience.

Summary of Amended Bill:  A nonresident who is at least 16 years of age and possesses a valid driver's license issued by his or her home state, or a nonresident who is at least 15 years of age with a valid instruction permit issued by his or her home state, when accompanied by a licensed driver with five years of driving experience, is allowed to drive in this state.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Bill:  Language of the original bill is clarified.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Rural border communities' traffic safety classes would be able to more easily access urban centers for driver training.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Snyder, prime sponsor.