BILL REQ. #: H-1787.1
| State of Washington | 59th Legislature | 2005 Regular Session |
Read first time 02/18/2005. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
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)) person shall
receive a traffic infraction and the 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 suspend the person's intermediate ((driver's)) 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;
(((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) If a person issued an intermediate license is a passenger in a
vehicle operated by a person issued an intermediate license who 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 and there are no members of the driver's
immediate family age twenty-one or older in the vehicle, the department
shall:
(a) On the first such occasion, suspend that 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;
(b) On the second such occasion, 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;
(c) On the third such occasion, suspend the person's intermediate
license until the person reaches eighteen years of age, and mail the
parent or guardian of the person a notification of the suspension.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "immediate family" includes
the spouse, parents, brother, sister, half brother, half sister,
stepbrother, or stepsister.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a single ticket for one or
more traffic offenses constitutes a single traffic offense.