HB 1199 - DIGEST

Finds and declares that: (1) The state has a compelling interest in preventing fatal vehicle accidents in this state;

(2) In order to prevent fatal vehicle accidents, it is necessary to analyze and understand the causes of such accidents, including the role played by alcohol;

(3) The state's compelling interest in preventing fatal vehicle accidents therefore creates a special need beyond normal law enforcement for the collection of evidence of blood alcohol content from drivers involved in fatal vehicle accidents; and

(4) Because evidence of blood alcohol content diminishes over time, requiring a warrant before that evidence can be collected would be impracticable and would frustrate the state's interest in collecting the information.

Provides that, in order to foster the prevention of fatal vehicle accidents, it is the intent of the legislature to: (1) Allow law enforcement officers to collect evidence of blood alcohol content from operators in fatal vehicle accidents; and

(2) Require hospitals to disclose evidence of blood alcohol content that they have collected from operators involved in fatal vehicle accidents to law enforcement.

Declares that a person who operates a vehicle within this state is deemed to have given consent, subject to RCW 46.61.506, to a test of his or her breath for the purpose of determining the alcohol concentration in his or her breath if the person is involved in a vehicle accident in which there has been a fatality.