SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5065

              As Passed Senate, January 14, 2000

Title:  An act relating to revocation of driving privileges.

Brief Description:  Revoking driving privileges for alcohol violations until the person is age twenty‑one.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Goings, Deccio, Honeyford, Winsley, Rossi, Hochstatter, Oke and Costa).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  2/19/99, 3/3/99 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/10/99, 45-0; 1/14/00, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5065 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Heavey, Chair; Kline, Vice Chair; Costa, Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Long, McCaslin, Roach, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Lidia Mori (786-7755)

Background:  In 1988, the Aminor in possession@ law was passed by the Washington State Legislature.  Among other things, it revokes a juvenile=s driving privileges when he or she is caught in possession of drugs or alcohol.  A juvenile is defined in statute as any individual under the chronological age of 18 years.  Concern exists that this law has sent an unintended signal to those individuals between the ages of 18 and 21 years that it is acceptable for them to possess liquor.  Proponents of this bill believe that if someone between the ages of 18 and 21 years is drinking alcohol or taking drugs, that person is not responsible enough to be driving a car.

Summary of Bill:  In all of the situations in which the Department of Licensing must revoke the driving privileges of a juvenile, the term Ajuvenile@ is replaced with Aperson@ or Aperson under the age of twenty-one.@  The department must revoke driving privileges in situations where there has been a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, the Legend Drugs - Prescription Drugs chapter, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act or the Imitation Controlled Substances Act.  The department must also revoke the driving privileges of a person who has been found by juvenile court to have committed an offense while armed with a firearm or to have committed the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The minor in possession statute applies to those under 18 years old.  It is illegal for those people who are 18 to 21 years old to possess alcohol and this bill will cause them to lose their driving privileges if they are caught.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Rasmussen, prime sponsor (pro).