Brief Description: Clarifying intermediate drivers' license law.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Hankins, Murray, Haler, Schual-Berke and Skinner).

Hearing Date: 1/25/06

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

Washington's Intermediate Drivers' 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 IDL 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 hours driving restriction.

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

• 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 IDL is a misdemeanor.

Summary of Bill:

The intermediate license holder and his or her parent, guardian, or employer must certify that they have read and understood the intermediate license restrictions.

For purposes of determining who may ride in the vehicle as a passenger, the definition of "immediate family" is broadened to include the spouse, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister or other person under 20 years old living in the same household.

The restriction on lifting the IDL limitations in the case of a driver involved in an accident is modified so that the accident must be one in which the driver was at-fault or charged with a violation.

Finally, the supervising driver must be 25 years of age with five years of driving experience.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on August 1, 2005.