BILL REQ. #:  H-2506.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/07/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to modifying penalties for violating conditions of an intermediate driver's license; amending RCW 46.20.267; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that two-thirds of teen passenger deaths occur when another teen is driving. The legislature finds that states with teenage driver restrictions experience a decrease in teenage car crashes. The legislature further finds that teenagers are often distracted when other teens are in the vehicle. The purpose of this act is to reduce vehicle collisions by providing penalties for the number of teenage passengers in a vehicle with a teenage driver.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.20.267 and 2000 c 115 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If a person issued an intermediate license is convicted of or found to have committed a traffic offense described in chapter 46.61 RCW or violated restrictions placed on an intermediate license under RCW 46.20.075:
     (((1))) (a) On the first such conviction or finding, the ((department shall mail the parent or guardian of the person a letter warning the person of the provisions of this section)) department shall suspend the person's intermediate license for a period of six months or until the person reaches eighteen years of age, whichever occurs first, and mail the parent or guardian of the person a notification of the suspension;
     (((2))) (b) On the second such conviction or finding, the department shall again suspend the person's intermediate ((driver's)) license for ((a)) an additional period of six months beginning on the date of the conviction or finding or until the person reaches eighteen years of age, whichever occurs first, and mail the parent or guardian of the person a notification of the suspension;
     (((3))) (c) On the third such conviction or finding, the department shall suspend the person's intermediate ((driver's)) license until the person reaches eighteen years of age, and mail the parent or guardian of the person a notification of the suspension.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, a single ticket for one or more traffic offenses constitutes a single traffic offense.