H-3315              _______________________________________________

 

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1499

                        _______________________________________________

 

                                                                            C 153 L 86

 

 

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Zellinsky, Patrick, Armstrong, Hargrove and Tanner

 

 

Read first time 1/17/86 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to alcohol breath testing; and amending RCW 9.41.098, 46.61.502, 46.61.504, 46.61.506, 46.20.308, and 88.02.---.

 

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

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 6, chapter 232, Laws of 1983 and RCW 9.41.098 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) The superior courts and the courts of limited jurisdiction of the state may order forfeiture of a firearm which is proven to be:

          (a) Found concealed on a person not authorized by RCW 9.41.060 or 9.41.070 to carry a concealed pistol:  PROVIDED, That it is an absolute defense to forfeiture if the person possessed a valid Washington concealed pistol license within the preceding two years and has not become ineligible for a concealed pistol license in the interim.  Before the firearm may be returned, the person must pay the past due renewal fee and the current renewal fee;

          (b) Commercially sold to any person without an application as required by RCW 9.41.090;

          (c) Found in the possession or under the control of a person at the time the person committed or was arrested for committing a crime of violence or a crime in which a firearm was used or displayed or a felony violation of the uniform controlled substances act, chapter 69.50 RCW;

          (d) Found concealed on a person who is in any place in which a concealed pistol license is required, and who is under the influence of any drug or under the influence of intoxicating liquor, having ((0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in his blood,)) 0.10 grams or more of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath, as shown by ((chemical)) analysis of his breath, blood, or other bodily substance;

          (e) Found in the possession of a person prohibited from possessing the firearm under RCW 9.41.040;

          (f) Found in the possession of a person free on bail or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a crime of violence or a crime in which a firearm was used or displayed, except that violations of Title 77 RCW shall not result in forfeiture under this section;

          (g) Found in the possession of a person found to have been mentally incompetent while in possession of a firearm when apprehended or who is thereafter committed pursuant to chapter 10.77 or 71.05 RCW;

          (h) Known to have been used or displayed by a person in the violation of a proper written order of a court of general jurisdiction; or

          (i) Known to have been used in the commission of a crime of violence or a crime in which a firearm was used or displayed or a felony violation of the uniformed controlled substances act, chapter 69.50 RCW.

          (2) Upon order of forfeiture, the court in its discretion shall order destruction of any firearm that is illegal for any person to possess, retention of the firearm as evidence, appropriate use by a law enforcement agency in the state, donation to a historical museum, or sale at a public auction to a commercial seller.  The proceeds from any sale shall be divided as follows:  The local jurisdiction shall retain its costs, including actual costs of storage and sale, and shall forward the remainder to the state game commission for use in its firearms training program pursuant to RCW 77.32.155.  If the court orders delivery to a law enforcement agency and the agency no longer requires use of the firearm, the agency shall dispose of the firearm in a manner which is consistent with this subsection.

          (3) The court shall order the firearm returned to the owner upon a showing that there is no probable cause to believe a violation of subsection (1) of this section existed or the firearm was stolen from the owner or the owner neither had knowledge of nor consented to the act or omission involving the firearm which resulted in its forfeiture.

          (4) A law enforcement officer of the state or of any county or municipality may confiscate a  firearm found to be in the possession of a person under circumstances specified in subsection (1) of this section.  After confiscation, the firearm shall not be surrendered except:  (a) To the prosecuting attorney for use in subsequent legal proceedings;  (b) for disposition according to an order of a court having jurisdiction as provided in subsection (1) of this section; or (c) to the owner if the proceedings are dismissed or as directed in subsection (3) of this section.

 

        Sec. 2.  Section 1, chapter 176, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 46.61.502 are each amended to read as follows:

          A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if he drives a vehicle within this state while:

          (1) He has ((0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in  his blood))  0.10 grams or more of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath, as shown by ((chemical)) analysis of his breath, blood, or other bodily substance made under RCW 46.61.506 as now or hereafter amended; or

          (2) He is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or

          (3) He is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

          The fact that any person charged  with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use such drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.

 

        Sec. 3.  Section 2, chapter 176, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 46.61.504 are each amended to read as follows:

          A person is guilty of being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if he has actual physical control of a vehicle within this state while:

          (1) He has ((a 0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in his blood)) 0.10 grams or more of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath, as shown by ((chemical)) analysis of his breath, blood, or other bodily substance made under RCW 46.61.506, as now or hereafter amended; or

          (2) He is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or

          (3) He is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

          The fact that any person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use such drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.  No person may be convicted under this section if, prior to being pursued by a law enforcement officer, he has moved the vehicle safely off the roadway.

 

        Sec. 4.  Section 3, chapter 1, Laws of 1969 as last amended by section 5, chapter 176, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 46.61.506 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person while driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, if the amount of alcohol in the person's blood or breath at the time alleged as shown by ((chemical)) analysis of his blood, breath, or other bodily substance is less than ((0.10 percent by weight of alcohol in the person's blood)) 0.10 grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of the person's breath, it is evidence that may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.

          (2) ((Percent by weight of alcohol in the blood shall be based upon milligrams of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood.))  The breath analysis shall be based upon grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath.  The foregoing provisions of this section shall not be construed as limiting the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing upon the question whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.

          (3) ((Chemical)) Analysis of the person's blood or breath to be considered valid under the provisions of this section or RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 shall have been performed according to methods approved by the state toxicologist and by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the state toxicologist for this purpose.  The state toxicologist is directed to approve satisfactory techniques or methods, to supervise the examination of individuals to ascertain their qualifications and competence to conduct such analyses, and to issue permits which shall be subject to termination or revocation at the discretion of the state toxicologist.

          (4) When a blood test is administered under the provisions of RCW 46.20.308, the withdrawal of blood for the purpose of determining its alcoholic content may be performed only by a physician, a registered nurse, or a qualified technician.  This limitation shall not apply to the taking of breath specimens.

          (5) The person tested may have a physician, or a qualified technician, chemist, registered nurse, or other qualified person of his own choosing administer ((a chemical test or)) one or more tests in addition to any administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer.  The failure or inability to obtain an additional test by a person shall not preclude the admission of evidence relating to the test or tests taken at the direction of a law enforcement officer.

          (6) Upon the request of the person who shall submit to a ((chemical)) test or tests at the request of a law enforcement officer, full information concerning the test or tests shall be made available to him or his attorney.

 

        Sec. 5.  Section 11, chapter 260, Laws of 1981 as last amended by section 3, chapter 407, Laws of 1985 and RCW 46.20.308 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) Any person who operates a motor vehicle within this state is deemed to have given consent, subject to the provisions of RCW 46.61.506, to a ((chemical)) test or tests of his or her breath or blood for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his or her breath or blood if arrested for any offense where, at the time of the arrest, the arresting officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

          (2) The test or tests of breath shall be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.  However, in those instances where:  (a) The person is incapable due to physical injury, physical incapacity, or other physical limitation, of providing a breath sample; or (b) as a result of a traffic accident the person is being treated for a medical condition in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, or other similar facility in which a breath testing instrument is not present, a blood test shall be administered by a qualified person as provided in RCW 46.61.506(4).   The officer shall inform the person of his or her right to refuse the breath or blood test, and of his or her right to have additional tests administered by any qualified person of his or her choosing as provided in RCW 46.61.506.  The officer shall warn the driver that (a) his or her privilege to drive will be revoked or denied if he or she refuses to submit to the test, and (b) that his or her refusal to take the test may be used against him or her in a subsequent criminal trial.

          (3) Except as provided in this ((subsection and subsection (4) of this section, the chemical)) section, the test administered shall be of the breath only.  If an individual is unconscious or is under arrest for the crime of vehicular homicide as provided in RCW 46.61.520 or vehicular assault as provided in RCW 46.61.522, or if an individual is under arrest for the crime of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs as provided in RCW 46.61.502, which arrest results from an accident in which another person has been injured and there is a reasonable likelihood that such other person may die as a result of injuries sustained in the accident, a breath or blood test may be administered without the consent of the individual so arrested.

          (4) Any person who is dead, unconscious, or who is otherwise in a condition rendering him incapable of refusal, shall be deemed not to have withdrawn the consent provided by subsection (1) of this section and the test or tests may be administered, subject to the provisions of RCW 46.61.506, and the person shall be deemed to have received the warnings required under subsection (2) of this section.

           (5) If, following his or her arrest and receipt of warnings under subsection (2) of this section, the person arrested refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer to submit to a ((chemical)) test of his or her breath or blood, no test shall be given except as authorized under subsection (3) or (4) of this section.

          (6) The department of licensing, upon the receipt of a sworn report of the law enforcement officer that he had reasonable grounds to believe the arrested person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and that the person had refused to submit to the test upon the request of the law enforcement officer after being informed that refusal would result in the revocation of his privilege to drive, shall revoke his license or permit to drive or any nonresident operating privilege.

          (7) Upon revoking the license or permit to drive or the nonresident operating privilege of any person,  the department shall immediately notify the person involved in writing by personal service or by certified mail of its decision and the grounds therefor, and of his right to a hearing, specifying the steps he must take to obtain a hearing.  Within ten days after receiving such notice the person may, in writing, request a formal hearing.  Upon receipt of such request, the department shall afford the person an opportunity for a hearing as provided in RCW 46.20.329 and 46.20.332.  The hearing shall be conducted in the county of the arrest.  For the purposes of this section, the scope of such hearing shall cover the issues of whether a law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, whether the person was placed under arrest, and whether he refused to submit to the test upon request of the officer after having been informed that such refusal would result in the revocation of his privilege to drive.  The department shall order that the revocation either be rescinded or sustained.  Any decision by the department revoking a person's driving privilege shall be stayed and shall not take effect while a formal hearing is pending as provided in this section or during the pendency of a subsequent appeal to superior court so long as there is no conviction for a moving violation or no finding that the person has committed a traffic infraction that is a moving violation during pendency of the hearing and appeal.

          (8) If the revocation is sustained after such a hearing, the person whose license, privilege, or permit is revoked has the right to file a petition in the superior court of the county in which he or she resides, or, if a nonresident of this state, where the charge arose, to review the final order of revocation by the department in the manner provided in RCW 46.20.334.

          (9) When it has been finally determined under the procedures of this section that a nonresident's privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state has been revoked, the department shall give information in writing of the action taken to the motor vehicle administrator of the state of the person's residence and of any state in which he or she has a license.

 

        Sec. 6.  Section 2, chapter 267, Laws of 1985 and RCW 88.02.---  are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a negligent manner, except a commercial vessel which has or is required to have a valid marine document as a vessel of the United States and is operating in the navigable waters of the United States.  For the purpose of this section, to "operate in a negligent manner" shall be construed to mean the operation of a vessel in such manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any persons or property.

          (2) A person is guilty of operating a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person operates a vessel within this state while:

          (a) The person has ((0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in his blood)) 0.10 grams or more of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath, as shown by ((chemical)) analysis of the person's breath, blood, or other bodily substance made under RCW 46.61.506; or

          (b) The person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or

          (c) The person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

          The fact that any person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use such drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section.  A person cited under this subsection may upon request be given a breath test for blood alcohol or may request to have a blood sample taken for blood alcohol analysis.  An arresting officer shall administer field sobriety tests when circumstances permit.

          (3) For the purposes of this section, "vessel" means any watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water.

          (4) For the purpose of this section, "vessel operator" means a person who is in actual physical control of a vessel.

          (5) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to ninety days in jail and by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.  In addition, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution for any damages or injuries resulting from the offense.


                                                                                                                          Passed the House March 11, 1986.

 

                                                                                                                                         Speaker of the House.

 

                                                                                                                          Passed the Senate March 11, 1986.

 

                                                                                                                                       President of the Senate.