Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 1223

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires a person to possess a valid driver's instruction permit for one year prior to becoming eligible to apply for an intermediate driver's license.
Extends the duration an instruction permit is valid to 18 months.
Extends the time during which a permit holder may not have been convicted of a traffic violation to 12 months to be eligible for an intermediate driver's license.

Background:

An applicant is eligible for a driver's instruction permit when that applicant has passed the vision and written examinations and is either at least 15 and one-half years old or 15 years old and enrolled in a traffic safety education program offered, approved, and accredited by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or offered by a driver training school licensed and inspected by the Department of Licensing (DOL) that includes driving practice. The DOL may waive the written examination requirement if, at the time of application, an applicant is enrolled in a traffic safety education program as described above.

A person who holds a driver's instruction permit may drive a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle if an approved instructor or a licensed driver with at least five years of driving experience occupies the seat beside the driver. A driver's instruction permit is valid for one year from the date of issue. The DOL may issue a second one-year permit and a third permit if it finds the permittee is diligently seeking to improve driving proficiency.

Individuals between the ages of 16 and 18 can be eligible for an intermediate driver's license if certain criteria are met. To obtain an intermediate driver's license, an applicant must: (1) have possession of a valid instruction permit for at least six months; (2) have passed a driver licensing examination; (3) have passed a course of driver's education; (4) present certification by his or her parent, guardian, or employer to the DOL stating that the applicant has met supervised driving requirements and that the applicant has not been issued a notice of traffic infraction or cited for a traffic violation that is pending at the time of the application; (5) not have been convicted of or found to have committed a traffic violation in the past six months; and (6) not have been adjudicated for an offense involving the use of alcohol or drugs during the period the applicant held an instruction permit.

Summary of Bill:

A person must possess a valid instruction permit for one year prior to becoming eligible to apply for an intermediate driver's license. An instruction permit is valid for 18 months from the date of issuance. A permit holder may not have been convicted of a traffic violation for 12 months prior to the time application for an intermediate driver's license is made to be eligible for an intermediate driver's license.