SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5254

BYSenators Warnke, Tanner, Smitherman, West, Johnson, Newhouse, Bender, Bailey, Zimmerman, Lee, Garrett, Vognild and Moore

Increasing penalties for the sale of liquor to minors.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 21, 1987; January 26, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5254 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Warnke, Chairman; Anderson, Cantu, Lee, Sellar, Tanner, Vognild, West.

Senate Staff:Patrick Woods (786-7430)

                  January 26, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR, JANUARY 26, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Currently, persons between the ages of 18 and 20 inclusive that purchase or attempt to purchase liquor are subject to fines in the range of $25 to $100, or imprisonment in the county jail for 30 days, or both.

Individuals who transfer, in any manner, an identification to a minor for the purpose of purchasing liquor are guilty of a misdemeanor; a specific range of penalties is not provided.

The liquor statute does not currently address the commercial preparation of false identification for individuals under the age of 21 from the purposes of purchasing liquor.

SUMMARY:

The range of penalties for a person between the ages of 18 and 20 inclusive that purchases or attempts to purchase liquor is increased to:  a fine in the range of between $250 and $500, or no less than 25 hours of community service; or imprisonment in the county jail for 30 days; or any combination of the penalties.

The penalty provisions for persons transferring identification to minors for the purposes of purchasing liquor are set at, fines between $250 and $500, or no less than 25 hours of community service, or imprisonment in county jail for 30 days, or any combination of the penalties.

A person, who for economic gain and without proper authority, that forges identification for a person under 21 for the purpose of purchasing liquor, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $2,500.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The provisions pertaining to forging of identification are modified to:  a person, who for economic gain or without the proper authority, that forges identification for a person under 21 for the purpose of purchasing liquor is guilty of a gross misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $2,500; and references to the revised code of Washington are modified to more accurately cite the specific types of identification subject to the act.

Existing provisions in the liquor statutes providing penalties for unlawful transference or possession of identification are brought into conformity with the act, providing fines in the range between $250 and $500, or no less than 25 hours of community service, or imprisonment in the county jail for 30 days, or any combination of the penalties.

Senate Committee - Testified: Bruce Roberts, Washington State Licensed Beverage Association; Bob Seeber, Restaurant Association; Carter Mitchell, Liquor Control Board