S-3576.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 6187

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

 

By Senators Stevens, Oke, Schow, Benton, Zarelli and Swecker

 

Read first time 01/14/98.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Adding penalties for alcohol offenders.


    AN ACT Relating to alcohol; amending RCW 46.20.117, 46.20.120, 46.20.311, and 46.20.391; and prescribing penalties.

 

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

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.20.117 and 1993 c 452 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall issue "identicards," containing a picture, to nondrivers for a fee of four 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 in RCW 46.20.035 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.

    (3) The department shall cancel an "identicard" upon a showing by its records or other evidence that the holder of the identicard has been convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504.  To obtain an identicard within five years of the conviction, the person must reapply, pay the normal fee, and pay the following additional fee:

    (a) One hundred dollars if the conviction is the person's first for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504;

    (b) Two hundred fifty dollars upon the person's second such conviction; and

    (c) Five hundred dollars upon the person's third or subsequent such conviction.

    The department shall clearly mark an identicard issued under this subsection to indicate that the person has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs within the last five years.

 

    Sec. 2.  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.  The department may not waive any part of the examination for a person whose license has been suspended or revoked within the last five years for conviction of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, but shall require the person to successfully complete all parts of the examination.  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.

    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. 3.  RCW 46.20.311 and 1997 c 58 s 807 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall not suspend a driver's license or privilege to drive a motor vehicle on the public highways for a fixed period of more than one year, except as specifically permitted under RCW 46.20.342 or other provision of law.  Except for a suspension under RCW 46.20.289, 46.20.291(5), or 74.20A.320, whenever the license or driving privilege of any person is suspended by reason of a conviction, a finding that a traffic infraction has been committed, pursuant to chapter 46.29 RCW, or pursuant to RCW 46.20.291 or 46.20.308, the suspension shall remain in effect until the person gives and thereafter maintains proof of financial responsibility for the future as provided in chapter 46.29 RCW.  If the suspension is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, the department shall determine the person's eligibility for licensing based upon the reports provided by the alcoholism agency or probation department designated under RCW 46.61.5056 and shall deny reinstatement until enrollment and participation in an approved program has been established and the person is otherwise qualified.  Whenever the license or driving privilege of any person is suspended as a result of certification of noncompliance with a child support order under chapter 74.20A RCW or a residential or visitation order, the suspension shall remain in effect until the person provides a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the person is in compliance with the order.  The department shall not issue to the person a new, duplicate, or renewal license until the person pays a reissue fee of twenty dollars.  If the suspension is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, or is the result of administrative action under RCW 46.20.308, the reissue fee shall be ((fifty dollars)) the normal driver's license fee plus the following amount:

    (a) One hundred dollars upon the person's first such conviction;

    (b) Two hundred fifty dollars upon the person's second such conviction; and

    (c) Five hundred dollars upon the person's third or subsequent such conviction.

    (2) Any person whose license or privilege to drive a motor vehicle on the public highways has been revoked, unless the revocation was for a cause which has been removed, is not entitled to have the license or privilege renewed or restored until:  (a) After the expiration of one year from the date the license or privilege to drive was revoked; (b) after the expiration of the applicable revocation period provided by RCW 46.20.3101 or 46.61.5055; (c) after the expiration of two years for persons convicted of vehicular homicide; or (d) after the expiration of the applicable revocation period provided by RCW 46.20.265.  After the expiration of the appropriate period, the person may make application for a new license as provided by law together with a reissue fee in the amount of twenty dollars, but if the revocation is the result of a violation of RCW 46.20.308, 46.61.502, or 46.61.504, the reissue fee shall be ((fifty dollars)) the normal driver's license fee plus the following amount:

    (i) One hundred dollars upon the person's first such conviction;

    (ii) Two hundred fifty dollars upon the person's second such conviction; and

    (iii) Five hundred dollars upon the person's third or subsequent such conviction.  If the revocation is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, the department shall determine the person's eligibility for licensing based upon the reports provided by the alcoholism agency or probation department designated under RCW 46.61.5056 and shall deny reissuance of a license, permit, or privilege to drive until enrollment and participation in an approved program has been established and the person is otherwise qualified.  Except for a revocation under RCW 46.20.265, the department shall not then issue a new license unless it is satisfied after investigation of the driving ability of the person that it will be safe to grant the privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the public highways, and until the person gives and thereafter maintains proof of financial responsibility for the future as provided in chapter 46.29 RCW.  For a revocation under RCW 46.20.265, the department shall not issue a new license unless it is satisfied after investigation of the driving ability of the person that it will be safe to grant that person the privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the public highways.

    (3) Whenever the driver's license of any person is suspended pursuant to Article IV of the nonresident violators compact or RCW 46.23.020 or 46.20.289 or 46.20.291(5), the department shall not issue to the person any new or renewal license until the person pays a reissue fee of twenty dollars.  If the suspension is the result of a violation of the laws of this or any other state, province, or other jurisdiction involving (a) the operation or physical control of a motor vehicle upon the public highways while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or (b) the refusal to submit to a chemical test of the driver's blood alcohol content, the reissue fee shall be ((fifty dollars)) the normal driver's license fee plus the following amount:

    (i) One hundred dollars upon the person's first such conviction;

    (ii) Two hundred fifty dollars upon the person's second such conviction; and

    (iii) Five hundred dollars upon the person's third or subsequent such conviction.

    (4) The department shall clearly mark a driver's license reissued under this section that had been revoked for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 or an equivalent violation under the laws of another state, province, or other jurisdiction to indicate that the person has been convicted of such a violation within the last five years.  A driver's license so marked under this subsection expires five years after its issuance.

 

    Sec. 4.  RCW 46.20.391 and 1995 c 332 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Any person licensed under this chapter who is convicted of an offense relating to motor vehicles for which suspension or revocation of the driver's license is mandatory, other than vehicular homicide or vehicular assault, may submit to the department an application for an occupational driver's license.  The department, upon receipt of the prescribed fee and upon determining that the petitioner is engaged in an occupation or trade that makes it essential that the petitioner operate a motor vehicle, may issue an occupational driver's license and may set definite restrictions as provided in RCW 46.20.394.  No person may petition for, and the department shall not issue, an occupational driver's license that is effective during the first thirty days of any suspension or revocation imposed for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504.  A person aggrieved by the decision of the department on the application for an occupational driver's license may request a hearing as provided by rule of the department.

    (2) An applicant for an occupational driver's license is eligible to receive such license only if:

    (a) Within one year immediately preceding the date of the offense that gave rise to the present conviction, the applicant has not committed any offense relating to motor vehicles for which suspension or revocation of a driver's license is mandatory; and

    (b) Within five years immediately preceding the date of the offense that gave rise to the present conviction, the applicant has not committed any of the following offenses:  (i) Driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor; (ii) vehicular homicide under RCW 46.61.520; or (iii) vehicular assault under RCW 46.61.522; and

    (c) The applicant is engaged in an occupation or trade that makes it essential that he or she operate a motor vehicle; and

    (d) The applicant files satisfactory proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 46.29 RCW.

    (3) The director shall cancel an occupational driver's license upon receipt of notice that the holder thereof has been convicted of operating a motor vehicle in violation of its restrictions, or of an offense that pursuant to chapter 46.20 RCW would warrant suspension or revocation of a regular driver's license.  The cancellation is effective as of the date of the conviction, and continues with the same force and effect as any suspension or revocation under this title.

    (4) The department may issue an occupational driver's license to a person convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 only if the person has successfully completed all parts of the driver's license examination in accordance with RCW 46.20.120 and has paid the following fee in addition to any fee required elsewhere:

    (a) One hundred dollars upon the person's first such conviction;

    (b) Two hundred fifty dollars upon the person's second such conviction; and

    (c) Five hundred dollars upon the person's third or subsequent such conviction.

    The department shall clearly mark an occupational driver's license issued under this subsection to indicate that the nature of the offense for which the person's regular license was revoked.  The department shall continue to so mark any driver's license it issues to that person for five years after a conviction under RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504.

 


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