AN
ACT Relating to the disqualification of drivers of commercial motor vehicles;
and amending RCW 46.25.090.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
46.25.090 and 1996 c 30 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period
of not less than one year if a report has been received by the department
pursuant to RCW 46.25.120, or if the person has been convicted of a first
violation, within this or any other jurisdiction, of:
(a)
Driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any drug;
(b)
Driving a commercial motor vehicle while the alcohol concentration in the
person's system is 0.04 or more as determined by any testing methods approved
by law in this state or any other state or jurisdiction;
(c)
Leaving the scene of an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle driven by
the person;
(d)
Using a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony;
(e)
Refusing to submit to a test to determine the driver's alcohol concentration
while driving a motor vehicle.
If
any of the violations set forth in this subsection occurred while transporting
a hazardous material required to be identified by a placard, the person is
disqualified for a period of not less than three years.
(2)
A person is disqualified for life if it has been determined that the person has
committed or has been convicted of two or more violations of any of the
offenses specified in subsection (1) of this section, or any combination of
those offenses, arising from two or more separate incidents. Only offenses
committed after October 1, 1989, may be considered in applying this subsection.
(3)
The department may adopt rules, in accordance with federal regulations,
establishing guidelines, including conditions, under which a disqualification
for life under subsection (2) of this section may be reduced to a period of not
less than ten years.
(4)
A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for life who
uses a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving the
manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance, as defined
by chapter 69.50 RCW, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or
dispense a controlled substance, as defined by chapter 69.50 RCW.
(5)
A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period
of not less than sixty days if convicted of or found to have committed two
serious traffic violations, or one hundred twenty days if convicted of or found
to have committed three serious traffic violations, committed in a commercial
motor vehicle arising from separate incidents occurring within a three-year
period.
(6)
A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period
of:
(a)
Not less than ninety days nor more than one year if convicted of or found to
have committed a first violation of an out-of-service order;
(b)
Not less than one year nor more than five years if, during a ten-year period,
the person is convicted of or is found to have committed two violations of
out-of-service orders in separate incidents;
(c)
Not less than three years nor more than five years if, during a ten-year
period, the person is convicted of or is found to have committed three or more
violations of out-of-service orders in separate incidents;
(d)
Not less than one hundred eighty days nor more than two years if the person is
convicted of or is found to have committed a first violation of an
out-of-service order while transporting hazardous materials required to be
placarded under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (46 U.S.C. Sec.
1801-1813), or while operating motor vehicles designed to transport sixteen or
more passengers, including the driver. A person is disqualified for a period
of not less than three years nor more than five years if, during a ten-year
period, the person is convicted of or is found to have committed subsequent violations
of out-of-service orders, in separate incidents, while transporting hazardous
materials required to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Transportation
Act, or while operating motor vehicles designed to transport sixteen or more
passengers, including the driver.
(7)(a)
A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for the period
of time specified in (b) of this subsection if he or she is convicted of or is
found to have committed one of the following six offenses at a railroad-highway
grade crossing while operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of a
federal, state, or local law or regulation:
(i)
For drivers who are not required to always stop, failing to slow down and check
that the tracks are clear of an approaching train;
(ii)
For drivers who are not required to always stop, failing to stop before
reaching the crossing, if the tracks are not clear;
(iii)
For drivers who are always required to stop, failing to stop before driving
onto the crossing;
(iv)
For all drivers, failing to have sufficient space to drive completely through
the crossing without stopping;
(v)
For all drivers, failing to obey a traffic control device or the directions of
an enforcement officer at the crossing;
(vi)
For all drivers, failing to negotiate a crossing because of insufficient
undercarriage clearance.
(b)
A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period
of:
(i)
Not less than sixty days if the driver is convicted of or is found to have
committed a first violation of a railroad-highway grade crossing violation;
(ii)
Not less than one hundred twenty days if the driver is convicted of or is found
to have committed a second railroad-highway grade crossing violation in
separate incidents within a three-year period;
(iii)
Not less than one year if the driver is convicted of or is found to have
committed a third or subsequent railroad-highway grade crossing violation in
separate incidents within a three-year period.
(8)
Within ten days after suspending, revoking, or canceling a commercial driver's
license, the department shall update its records to reflect that action. After
suspending, revoking, or canceling a nonresident commercial driver's
privileges, the department shall notify the licensing authority of the state
that issued the commercial driver's license.
