SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6399

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Transportation, January 31, 2002

Title:  An act relating to driving records.

Brief Description:  Abstracting only accidents in which the driver was at fault.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe and Gardner.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/24/02, 1/31/02 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6399 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Finkbeiner, Jacobsen, Kastama, Keiser, Prentice, T. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  The Department of Licensing maintains abstracts of driving records.  These abstracts contain information relating to a person's driving record, including:

- a list of motor vehicle accidents in which the person was driving;

- whether any of the motor vehicle accidents resulted in a fatality;

- any reported convictions, forfeitures of bail, or findings that an infraction was committed based upon a violation of any motor vehicle law;

- the status of the person's driving privilege in this state; and

- any reports of failure to respond to a notice of infraction.

Certified abstracts may only be released to specified persons, including:  the individual named in the abstract; an employer or agent, or prospective employer or agent; specified insurance companies; an alcohol/drug assessment or treatment agency approved by the Department of Social and Health Services; and city and county prosecuting attorneys.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  An abstract provided to an employer must include a list of motor vehicle accidents in which the person was driving and received a citation for the accident.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Abstracts provided to employers must include a list of accidents in which the person was driving and received a citation for the accident.  The original bill required all abstracts to include a list of accidents for which the person was at fault.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 23, 2002.

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

Testimony For:  Currently, all accidents are recorded on vehicle abstracts even when a driver was not at fault.  Potential employers have denied jobs to individuals based on the accident information in the abstract.

Testimony Against:  It is not appropriate for the Department of Licensing to determine who is at  fault for an accident.

Testified:  John Hatfield (pro); Mike Hall, DOL (w/concerns); Jean Leonard, State Farm Insurance (con).