Title: An act relating to modifying penalties for violating conditions of an intermediate driver's license.

Brief Description: Modifying penalties for violating conditions of an intermediate driver's license.

Sponsors: Representatives Schindler, Simpson, Ahern, Clibborn and Woods.

Brief History:

Transportation: 3/2/05, 3/7/05 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 22 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Buck, Ericksen, Nixon, Shabro and Upthegrove.

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

Washington's Intermediate Driver's License (IDL) law prohibits drivers who hold an IDL from carrying passengers under 20 years of age in their car for the first six months after issuance of the license, unless the passenger is an immediate family member. During the remaining period of the IDL (up to the age of 18), the driver may not carry more than three non-family member passengers under the age of 20.

Drivers who hold an intermediate license are also prohibited from driving between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless a licensed driver 25 or older is also in the vehicle. Driving for agricultural purposes is an exception to the late night hour driving restriction.

Beginning with the issuance of the IDL and until the age of 18:

• If a driver commits a driving violation, or a violation of license restrictions, the driver is sent a warning letter by the Department of Licensing.
• If two driving violations are committed, a letter suspending the driver for six months (or    until age 18, whichever is shorter) is sent to the driver.
• For a third driving violation, the driver is suspended until age 18.
• The driver's parents also receive a copy of any warning or suspension letter sent to the    driver.

After a year of driving safely without a driving violation, offense or collision, the driving restrictions expire and will not be reimposed. However, the driver is still subject to receiving the intermediate license warning letter and license suspension penalties until age 18. Driving with a suspended intermediate license is a misdemeanor.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The first time the holder of an intermediate license commits a driving violation, or violation of license restrictions, the driver will have their license suspended for six months.

The holder of an intermediate license who is in the vehicle when another intermediate license holder commits a driving violation, or a violation of license restrictions, will have their license suspended for six months or until the age of 18, whichever comes first.

The second time the holder of an intermediate license is in the vehicle when another intermediate license holder commits a driving violation, or a violation of license restrictions, they will have their license suspended for six months or until the age of 18, whichever comes first.

The third time the holder of an intermediate license is in the vehicle when another intermediate license holder commits a driving violation, or a violation of license restrictions, they will have their license suspended until the age of 18.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The second time the holder of an intermediate license commits a driving violation, or a violation of license restrictions, the driver will have their license suspended again for an additional six months beginning on the date of the conviction or finding. The penalties for holders of intermediate licenses who are in the vehicle when another intermediate license holder commits a driving violation, or a violation of license restrictions, are removed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The idea behind this bill is the product of high school students. The IDL law has already saved lives. However, kids are subject to peer pressure. They will get pressured and end up violating the intermediate license, but their friends won't pay any price for bringing the pressure to bear. This bill will insure that the friends are punished as well.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Schindler, prime sponsor; Edward L Murrey; Edith Perez-Murrey; and Judy LaMontagne.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.