SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 6187

                As Passed Senate, March 3, 1998

Title:  An act relating to alcohol.

Brief Description:  Adding penalties for alcohol offenders.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Oke, Schow, Benton, Zarelli and Swecker).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  1/15/98, 1/22/98 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/3/98, 36-13.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6187 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Johnson, Vice Chair; Goings, Hargrove, Long, McCaslin, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Lidia Mori (786-7755)

Background:  The Department of Licensing (DOL) is authorized to cancel a person=s identicard or suspend or revoke a person=s driver=s license under certain circumstances specified in statute.  A person whose license is suspended or revoked due to a violation of the laws pertaining to driving under the influence may seek reinstatement of the license or a new license after the passage of the suspension or revocation period by showing proof of financial responsibility and payment of a reissue fee.  In addition, the department determines eligibility for licensing based upon reports provided by the alcoholism agency or probation department regarding the person=s enrollment and participation in an approved program.  A person whose license is revoked must also successfully pass a driver licensing examination.

Summary of Bill:  The identicard of a person who is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol must be canceled by the Department of Licensing.  The new identicard must be obliquely marked by the department to show that the person has been convicted of DUI within the last five years.

A person who is seeking to have his or her license reinstated after suspension for DUI must pay the current reissue fee and an additional fee of $300. 

A new license may not be issued to a person whose license has been revoked due to driving under the influence of alcohol until he or she pays the current reissue fee and an additional fee of $300.

The department is required to obliquely mark a new or reissued license that is issued after a period of suspension or revocation to show that the person has been convicted of a DUI violation within the last five years.  The department continues to so mark any license it issues to the person for five years.

A person convicted of DUI may obtain an occupational driver=s license only after successful completion of the driver=s license examination and payment of a fee of $300.  The occupational license must be obliquely marked to show that the person=s regular license was suspended or revoked due to a DUI conviction.

The impaired driving safety account is created.  Seventy-five percent of the revenue generated by the increased fees contained in this bill are deposited in this account and 25 percent of the revenue is deposited into the highway safety fund.  $1.5 million is appropriated from the impaired driving safety account to the county criminal justice assistance account and $1 million is appropriated from the impaired driving safety account to the municipal criminal justice assistance account.  This funding provides reimbursement for driving under the influence legislation passed during the 1998 session.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested.

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

Testimony For:  We must remember the impact of driving under the influence of alcohol offenses, not only the physical and emotional impact, but the fiscal impact also.  Identicards are used when people buy liquor to show the age of the person.  That is why they should be  marked when a person has been convicted of DUI.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Val Stevens, prime sponsor.

House Amendment(s):  A person who is seeking to have his or her license reinstated after suspension for DUI must pay a reissue fee of $150.  A new license may not be issued to a person whose license has been revoked due to driving under the influence of alcohol until he or she pays a reissue fee of $150.

The impaired driving safety account is created.  Sixty-three percent of the revenue generated by the increased fees contained in this bill are deposited in this account and 37 percent of the revenue is deposited into the highway safety fund.