(1) A licensee or a mandatory alcohol server training permit holder has twenty days from receipt of the notice to:

(a) Accept the recommended penalty; or

(b) Request a settlement conference in writing; or

A response must be submitted on a form provided by the agency.

(2) What happens if a licensee or mandatory alcohol server training permit holder does not respond to the administrative violation notice within twenty days?

(a) If a licensee or permit holder does not respond to the administrative violation notice within twenty days, the recommended suspension penalty will go into effect. After twenty days and up to thirty days from the date of the administrative violation notice, and if the violation includes a monetary penalty, the licensee may pay a twenty-five percent fee in addition to the recommended penalty in lieu of suspension.

(b) If the penalty does not include a suspension, the licensee must pay a twenty-five percent late fee in addition to the recommended penalty. The recommended penalty plus the late fee must be received within thirty days of the violation notice issue date.

(c) When a licensee fails to submit payment of monetary fine proceedings, provisions to collect shall take effect immediately or other actions such as revocation, will be instituted as deemed appropriate by the WSLCB.

(d) An attempt to advise the debtor of the existence of the debt, and twenty-five percent late fee per (b) of this subsection, will be made notifying that the debt may be assigned to a collection agency for collection if the debt is not paid, and at least thirty days have elapsed from the time notice was attempted.

(e) Licensees failing to respond to an administrative violation notice or having outstanding fines shall not be eligible to renew their liquor license.

(f) Failure to address monetary penalties for two or more administrative violations notices in a two-year period will result in license cancellation.

(3) What are the procedures when a licensee or mandatory alcohol server training permit holder requests a settlement conference?

(a) If the licensee or permit holder requests a settlement conference, the hearing examiner or captain will contact the licensee or permit holder to discuss the violation.

(b) Both the licensee or permit holder and the hearing examiner or captain will discuss the circumstances surrounding the charge, the recommended penalty, and any aggravating or mitigating factors.

(c) If a compromise is reached, the hearing examiner or captain will prepare a compromise settlement agreement. The hearing examiner or captain will forward the compromise settlement agreement, authorized by both parties, to the board for approval.

(i) If the board approves the compromise, a copy of the signed settlement agreement will be sent to the licensee or permit holder, and will become part of the licensing history.

(ii) If the board does not approve the compromise, the licensee or permit holder will be notified of the decision. The licensee or permit holder will be given the option to renegotiate with the hearings examiner or captain, of accepting the originally recommended penalty, or of requesting an administrative hearing on the charges.

(d) If the licensee or permit holder and the hearing examiner or captain cannot reach agreement on a settlement proposal, the licensee may accept the originally recommended penalty, or the hearing examiner or captain will forward a request for an administrative hearing to the board's hearings coordinator.

PDFWAC 314-29-010

What options does a licensee or permit holder have once he/she receives a notice of an administrative violation?