SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5297

As Passed Senate, February 12, 2004

Title: An act relating to driver's license examinations.

Brief Description: Allowing reciprocal waiver of driver's license exams.

Sponsors: Senators Horn and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/26/03, 3/5/03 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/12/04, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Finkbeiner, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Prentice and Spanel.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Currently, an applicant for an original or renewed driver's license must successfully pass an examination to qualify for the license. However, DOL may waive all or any part of the examination when a person is applying for a renewal. For persons with a valid driver's license from another state applying for a Washington driver's license, DOL may waive only the demonstration of the ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Some nations offer to waive driver's license examinations for citizens from other nations who reciprocate the waiver of examination. For example, Germany has waived all or part of its driver's license examination for citizens from over 20 states, including Oregon and Idaho, which in turn have waived all or part of the examination for German citizens.

Summary of Bill: DOL may enter into informal agreements with nations to waive the requirement for licensed drivers age 18 or older, to take all or any part of a driver's license examination. DOL may only enter into an informal agreement with a nation that has procedures in place to verify the validity of the drivers' licenses issued by that nation.

DOL may waive all or any part of a driver's license examination of a person age 18 or older, who provides for verification a valid driver's license issued by a nation with which the department has entered into an informal agreement.

A Washington driver's license issued pursuant to an informal agreement cannot be renewed.

An effective date of May 1, 2005 is provided.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: May 1, 2005.

Testimony For: We have employees overseas who would benefit from the ability to receive a driver's license in a foreign country with greater ease.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Al Ralston, Boeing.