BILL REQ. #:  S-3528.1 

Read first time 01/10/2006.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to reports of traffic violations and accidents by diplomats; and adding a new section to chapter 46.55 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.55 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) As used in this section, "diplomat" means an individual who:
     (a) Has a driver's license issued by the United States Department of State; or
     (b) Claims immunities or privileges under 22 U.S.C. Secs. 254a through 258a with respect to:
     (i) A moving traffic violation under this title or a moving traffic violation of an ordinance of a local authority; or
     (ii) Operating a motor vehicle while committing any of the following offenses:
     (A) Vehicular homicide under RCW 46.61.520;
     (B) Vehicular assault under RCW 46.61.522; or
     (C) Reckless driving under RCW 46.61.500.
     (2) A law enforcement officer who stops a motor vehicle and has probable cause to believe that the driver is a diplomat who has committed a violation described under subsection (1)(b)(i) or (ii) of this section shall:
     (a) As soon as practicable, contact the United States Department of State in order to verify the driver's status and immunity, if any;
     (b) Record all relevant information from any driver's license or identification card, including a driver's license or identification card issued by the United States Department of State; and
     (c) Within five business days after the date the officer stops the driver, forward all of the following to the department of licensing:
     (i) If the driver is involved in a vehicle accident, the vehicle accident report;
     (ii) If a citation or other charging document was issued to the driver, a copy of the citation or other charging document; and
     (iii) If a citation or other charging document was not issued to the driver, a written report of the incident.
     (3) The department shall:
     (a) File each vehicle accident report, citation or other charging document, and incident report that the department receives under this section;
     (b) Keep convenient records or make suitable notations showing each:
     (i) Conviction;
     (ii) Finding of responsibility; and
     (iii) Vehicle accident; and
     (c) Within five business days after receipt, send a copy of each document and record described in this subsection to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of Foreign Missions, of the United States Department of State.
     (4) This section does not prohibit or limit the application of any law to a criminal or motor vehicle violation committed by a diplomat.