Z-0637.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5886

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1993 Regular Session

 

By Senators Vognild, Prince, Prentice and Winsley; by request of Department of Licensing

 

Read first time 02/22/93.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

 

Increasing fees for driver's licenses, exams, and identicards.


    AN ACT Relating to driver licensing and related fees; amending RCW 46.20.117, 46.20.161, 46.20.181, 46.68.041, 46.20.120, 46.20.130, 46.20.505, and 46.20.515; providing effective dates; and declaring an emergency.

 

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

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.20.117 and 1986 c 15 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall issue "identicards," containing a picture, to individuals for a fee of ((four)) fifteen dollars.  However, the fee shall be the actual cost of production to recipients of continuing public assistance grants under Title 74 RCW who are referred in writing to the department by the secretary of social and health services.  The fee shall be deposited in the highway safety fund.  To be eligible, each applicant shall produce evidence as required by the rules adopted by the director that positively proves identity.  The "identicard" shall be distinctly designed so that it will not be confused with the official driver's license.  The identicard shall expire on the fifth anniversary of the applicant's birthdate after issuance.

    (2) The department may cancel an "identicard" upon a showing by its records or other evidence that the holder of such "identicard" has committed a violation relating to "identicards" defined in RCW 46.20.336.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 46.20.161 and 1990 c 250 s 40 are each amended to read as follows:

    The department, upon receipt of a fee of ((fourteen)) twenty dollars, which includes the fee for the required photograph, shall issue to every applicant qualifying therefor a driver's license, which license shall bear thereon a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the full name, date of birth, Washington residence address, and a brief description of the licensee, and either a facsimile of the signature of the licensee or a space upon which the licensee shall write his or her usual signature with pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the license.  No license is valid until it has been so signed by the licensee.

 

    Sec. 3.  RCW 46.20.181 and 1990 c 250 s 41 are each amended to read as follows:

    Every driver's license expires on the fourth anniversary of the licensee's birthdate following the issuance of the license.  Every such license is renewable on or before its expiration upon application prescribed by the department and the payment of a fee of ((fourteen)) twenty dollars.  This fee includes the fee for the required photograph.

 

    Sec. 4.  RCW 46.68.041 and 1985 ex.s. c 1 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall forward all funds accruing under the provisions of chapter 46.20 RCW together with a proper identifying, detailed report to the state treasurer who shall deposit such moneys to the credit of the highway safety fund except as otherwise provided in this section.

    (2) Out of each fee of ((fourteen)) twenty dollars collected for a driver's license, the sum of ((ten)) sixteen dollars and twenty cents shall be deposited in the highway safety fund, and three dollars and eighty cents shall be deposited in the general fund.

 

    Sec. 5.  RCW 46.20.120 and 1990 c 9 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    No new driver's license may be issued and no previously issued license may be renewed until the applicant therefor has successfully passed a driver licensing examination.  However, the department may waive all or any part of the examination of any person applying for the renewal of a driver's license except when the department determines that an applicant for a driver's license is not qualified to hold a driver's license under this title.  The department may also waive the actual demonstration of the ability to operate a motor vehicle by a person who surrenders a valid driver's license issued by the person's previous home state and who is otherwise qualified to be licensed.  For a new license examination a fee of ((seven)) five dollars shall be paid by each applicant for the test of the applicant's knowledge under RCW 46.20.130(2), and a fee of ten dollars shall be paid by each applicant for the test of the applicant's actual ability to operate a motor vehicle under RCW 46.20.130(3), in addition to the fee charged for issuance of the license.  A new license is one issued to a driver who has not been previously licensed in this state or to a driver whose last previous Washington license has been revoked or expired for more than four years.

    Any person renewing his or her driver's license more than sixty days  after the license has expired shall pay a penalty fee of ten dollars in addition to the renewal fee under RCW 46.20.181.  The penalty fee shall be deposited in the highway safety fund.

    Any person who is outside the state at the time his or her driver's license expires or who is unable to renew the license due to any incapacity may renew the license within sixty days after returning to this state or within sixty days after the termination of any such incapacity without the payment of the penalty fee.

    The department shall provide for giving examinations at places and times reasonably available to the people of this state.

 

    Sec. 6.  RCW 46.20.130 and 1990 c 250 s 39 are each amended to read as follows:

    The director shall prescribe the content of the driver licensing examination and the manner of conducting the examination, which shall include but is not limited to:

    (1) A test of the applicant's eyesight and ability to see, understand, and follow highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic;

    (2) A test of the applicant's knowledge of traffic laws and ability to understand and follow the directives of lawful authority, orally or graphically, that regulate, warn, and direct traffic in accordance with the traffic laws of this state;

    (3) An actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property; and

    (4) Such further examination as the director deems necessary (a) to determine whether any facts exist which would bar the issuance of a vehicle operator's license under chapters 46.20, 46.21, and 46.29 RCW, and (b) to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely on the highways((; and

    (5) In addition to the foregoing, when the applicant desires to drive a motorcycle, as defined in RCW 46.04.330, or a motor-driven cycle, as defined in RCW 46.04.332, the applicant shall also demonstrate the ability to operate such motorcycle or motor-driven cycle in such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property)).

 

    Sec. 7.  RCW 46.20.505 and 1989 c 203 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    Every person applying for a special endorsement or a new category of endorsement of a driver's license authorizing such person to drive a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle shall pay an examination fee of ((two)) five dollars ((which is)) for the test of the applicant's knowledge under RCW 46.20.515(2), and a fee of ten dollars for the test of the applicant's actual ability to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle under RCW 46.20.515(3).  Examination fees paid under this section are not refundable.  In addition, the endorsement fee for the initial or new category motorcycle endorsement shall be six dollars and the subsequent renewal endorsement fee shall be seven dollars and fifty cents.  The initial or new category and renewal endorsement fees shall be deposited in the motorcycle safety education account of the highway safety fund.

 

    Sec. 8.  RCW 46.20.515 and 1982 c 77 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    The motorcycle endorsement examination for each displacement category shall ((emphasize)) be prescribed by the director and shall include but not be limited to:

    (1) A test of the applicant's eyesight and ability to see, understand, and follow highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic;

    (2) A test of the applicant's knowledge of applicable traffic laws and motorcycle or motor-driven cycle operation and safety; and

    (3) An actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle in such a manner as not to jeopardize the safety of persons or property, including the maneuvers necessary for on-street operation, including emergency braking and turning as may be required to avoid an impending collision.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.  Sections 1 through 4 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on July 1, 1993.  The remainder of this act shall take effect on October 1, 1993.

 


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