Z-1620               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6558

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Conner, Thorsness, McMullen and Sellar; by request of Department of Licensing

Read first time 1/17/90 and referred to Committee on  Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to the examination for the renewal of a driver's license; and amending RCW 46.20.120.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 46.20.120, chapter 12, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 2, chapter 88, Laws of 1988 and RCW 46.20.120 are each amended to read as follows:

          No new driver's license may be issued and no previously issued license may be renewed until the applicant therefor has successfully passed a driver licensing examination((:  PROVIDED, That)).  However, the department may waive all or any part of the examination of any person applying for the renewal of a driver's license except when the department determines that an applicant for a driver's license is not qualified to hold a driver's license under this title.  The department may also waive the actual demonstration of the ability to operate a motor vehicle by a person who surrenders a valid driver's license issued by the person's previous home state and who is otherwise qualified to be licensed.  For a new license examination a fee of seven dollars shall be paid by each applicant, in addition to the fee charged for issuance of the license.  A new license is one issued to a driver who has not been previously licensed in this state or to a driver whose last previous Washington license has been expired for more than four years.

          Any person renewing his or her driver's license more than sixty days  after the license has expired shall pay a penalty fee of ten dollars in addition to the renewal fee under RCW 46.20.181.  The penalty fee shall be deposited in the highway safety fund.

          Any person who is outside the state at the time his or her driver's license expires or who is unable to renew the license due to any incapacity may renew the license within sixty days after returning to this state or within sixty days after the termination of any such incapacity without the payment of the penalty fee.

          The department shall provide for giving examinations at places and times reasonably available to the people of this state.