FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5558

C 247 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Clarifying alcohol violator provisions.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Rossi, Kline, Finkbeiner, Roach, Morton, Oke, Johnson, Long, Swecker, Stevens and Sheahan).

Senate Committee on Judiciary

House Committee on Judiciary

Background:  A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of liquor or any drug if the person drives a motor vehicle within this state and, within two hours after driving, has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.  The statute which governs the penalties for alcohol violators does not specify that a certain penalty will apply if the blood alcohol level of the driver is at or above a particular level within two hours after driving as shown by analysis of the person=s blood or breath.  Proponents of this bill believe additional direction and specificity is needed in the statutes pertaining to penalties for alcohol violators in order to lessen the number of DUI cases where violators receive a lesser penalty due to the person=s blood alcohol level being reduced and also avoid the requirement to drive only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock.

Summary:  Courts are prohibited from suspending the requirement that a person drive only a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device when a driver is required by statute to have one.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate480

House     95 1 (House amended)

Senate    49 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 22, 2001