H-3591.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2440
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Representatives D. Sommers, Costa, Gombosky, Dyer and Gardner
Read first time 01/14/98. Referred to Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget.
AN ACT Relating to requirements for driver's license renewals; and amending RCW 46.20.120.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. 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 dollars shall be paid by each applicant, 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 expired for more than four years.
Upon reaching age sixty-nine, a person applying for renewal must demonstrate an ability to read and understand traffic signals as well as knowledge of the state traffic laws. Upon reaching age seventy-five, a person applying for renewal must also successfully pass a road test to demonstrate the person's ability to drive with care and control. Beginning at age eighty-one, a person applying for renewal must successfully pass all exams every two years in order to renew, and beginning at age eighty-seven, a person applying for renewal must successfully pass the exams every year.
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.
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