SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6637

BYSenators Patrick, Rasmussen and Thorsness

Exempting hearing-impaired drivers from license restrictions.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1990

Senate Staff:Cathy Mayo (786-7304)

AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Current law requires that any person suffering from any physical or mental disability, which might impair driving ability, to demonstrate to the department that in spite of the disability that person is capable of safely driving a motor vehicle.  The department may also require such person to obtain a doctor's certificate verifying the same.  The department may issue a driver's license to a person with a physical or mental handicap, imposing restrictions suitable to the person's driving ability and may require the installation of specialized mechanical control devices on the vehicle.

The department may either issue a special restricted license or may set forth such restrictions upon the person's driver's license.

It is a traffic infraction for any person to operate a motor vehicle in violation of the restrictions imposed on a restricted driver's license.  If the department receives satisfactory evidence that the person has violated the restrictions of the license, it has the authority to suspend or revoke the license; however, the driver is entitled to a driver improvement interview and hearing.

SUMMARY:

The department shall not impose any restrictions on a licensee whose only physical impairment is a certifiable hearing loss.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    none requested