AN
ACT Relating to issuing drivers' licenses; amending RCW 46.20.120, 46.20.161,
46.20.181, 46.20.470, and 46.20.505; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
46.20.120 and 1999 c 6 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
An
applicant for a new or renewed driver's license must successfully pass a driver
licensing examination to qualify for a driver's license. The department shall
give examinations at places and times reasonably available to the people of
this state.
(1)
Waiver. The department may waive:
(a)
All or any part of the examination of any person applying for the renewal of a
driver's license unless the department determines that the applicant is not
qualified to hold a driver's license under this title; or
(b)
The actual demonstration of the ability to operate a motor vehicle if the
applicant:
(i)
Surrenders a valid driver's license issued by the person's previous home state;
and
(ii)
Is otherwise qualified to be licensed.
(2)
Fee. Each applicant for a new license must pay an examination fee of
seven dollars.
(a)
The examination fee is in addition to the fee charged for issuance of the
license.
(b)
"New license" means a license issued to a driver:
(i)
Who has not been previously licensed in this state; or
(ii)
Whose last previous Washington license has been expired for more than ((four))
five years.
Sec.
2. RCW
46.20.161 and 1999 c 6 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:
The department, upon receipt of a fee of ((fourteen)) twenty-five
dollars, unless the driver's license is issued for a period other than five
years, in which case the fee shall be five dollars for each year that the
license is issued, which includes the fee for the required photograph,
shall issue to every qualifying applicant a driver's license. The license must
include a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the name of record,
date of birth, Washington residence address, photograph, a brief description of
the licensee, and either a facsimile of the signature of the licensee or a space
upon which the licensee shall write his or her usual signature with pen and ink
immediately upon receipt of the license. No license is valid until it has been
so signed by the licensee.
Sec.
3. RCW
46.20.181 and 1999 c 6 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, every driver's
license expires on the ((fourth)) fifth anniversary of the
licensee's birthdate following the issuance of the license.
(2)
A person may renew his or her license on or before the expiration date by
submitting an application as prescribed by the department and paying a fee of
((fourteen)) twenty-five dollars. This fee includes the fee for
the required photograph.
(3)
A 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, unless his or her license expired when:
(a)
The person was outside the state and he or she renews the license within sixty
days after returning to this state; or
(b)
The person was incapacitated and he or she renews the license within sixty days
after the termination of the incapacity.
(4) During the period from July 1, 2000, to July 1, 2006, the
department may issue or renew a driver's license for a period other than five
years, or may extend by mail a license that has already been issued, in order
to evenly distribute, as nearly as possible, the yearly renewal rate of
licensed drivers. The fee for a driver's license issued or renewed for a
period other than five years, or that has been extended by mail, is five
dollars for each year that the license is issued, renewed, or extended. The
department may adopt any rules as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
Sec.
4. RCW
46.20.470 and 1989 c 178 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
There
shall be an additional fee for issuing any class of commercial driver's license
in addition to the prescribed fee required for the issuance of the original
driver's license. The additional fee for each class shall not exceed ((twelve))
twenty dollars for the original commercial driver's license or
subsequent renewals, unless the commercial driver's license is renewed or
extended for a period other than five years, in which case the fee for each
class shall not exceed four dollars for each year that the commercial driver's
license is renewed or extended. The fee shall be deposited in the highway
safety fund.
Sec.
5. RCW
46.20.505 and 1993 c 115 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
Every
person applying for a special endorsement or a new category of endorsement of a
driver's license authorizing such person to drive a motorcycle or a
motor-driven cycle shall pay an examination fee of two dollars which is not
refundable. In addition, the endorsement fee for the initial or new category
motorcycle endorsement shall ((be six)) not exceed ten dollars,
and the subsequent renewal endorsement fee shall ((be fourteen)) not
exceed twenty-five dollars, unless the endorsement is renewed or
extended for a period other than five years, in which case the subsequent
renewal endorsement fee shall not exceed five dollars for each year that the
endorsement is renewed or extended. The initial or new category and
renewal endorsement fees shall be deposited in the motorcycle safety education
account of the highway safety fund.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.
Sections 1 through 5 of this act take effect July 1, 2000.
