FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 6408

                          C 215 L 98

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Increasing penalties for alcohol violators who commit the offense with a person under the age of ten in the motor vehicle.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators McCaslin, Kline, Long, Fairley, Stevens, Hargrove, Zarelli, Johnson, Thibaudeau, Haugen, Schow, Roach and Oke).

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

House Committee on Law & Justice

Background:  A conviction of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol results in jail time, a fine, and suspension or revocation of the convicted person=s driver=s license.  There are no additional penalties in statute to apply in situations where a person is convicted of drunken driving and had passengers present in the vehicle at the time of the arrest.

At least four states have enacted laws which impose either stiffer penalties for drunken driving with a minor in the vehicle or have created a separate offense such as Aendangering a child by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.@

Summary:  When determining the penalty for a DUI conviction, the court is directed to particulary consider whether the person was driving or in physical control of a vehicle with one or more passengers at the time of the offense.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 48 0

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate        (Senate refused to concur)

Conference Committee

House     96 0

Senate    46 0

Effective:  June 11, 1998