BILL REQ. #:  S-0607.1 

Read first time 01/15/2003.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to drivers convicted of alcohol offenses; and amending RCW 46.20.720 and 46.20.311.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.20.720 and 2001 c 247 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The court may order that after a period of suspension, revocation, or denial of driving privileges, and for up to as long as the court has jurisdiction, any person convicted of any offense involving the use, consumption, or possession of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle may drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock or other biological or technical device.
     (2) ((If a)) The department shall require that, after any applicable period of suspension, revocation, or denial of driving privileges, a person may drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock or other biological or technical device if the person is:
     (a) Convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 or an equivalent local ordinance and it is:
     (((a))) (i) The person's first conviction or a deferred prosecution under chapter 10.05 RCW and his or her alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration; ((or (b)))
     (ii) The person's second or subsequent conviction; or (((c)))
     (iii) The person's first conviction and the person has a previous deferred prosecution under chapter 10.05 RCW or it is a deferred prosecution under chapter 10.05 RCW and the person has a previous conviction((, the court shall order that after any applicable period of suspension, revocation, or denial of driving privileges, the person may drive)); or
     (b) Restricted to driving only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock or other biological or technical device under RCW 46.20.308. ((The requirement to drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock or other biological or technical device may not be suspended.)) The ((court)) department may waive the requirement for the use of such a device if ((the court makes a specific finding in writing)) it concludes that such devices are not reasonably available in the local area. Nothing in this section may be interpreted as entitling a person to more than one deferred prosecution.
     (3) In the case of a person under subsection (1) of this section, the court shall establish a specific calibration setting at which the ignition interlock or other biological or technical device will prevent the motor vehicle from being started and the period of time that the person shall be subject to the restriction. In the case of a person under subsection (2) of this section, the ignition interlock or other biological or technical device shall be calibrated to prevent the motor vehicle from being started when the breath sample provided has an alcohol concentration of 0.025 or more, and the period of time of the restriction will be as follows:
     (a) For a person (i) who is subject to RCW 46.61.5055 (1)(b), (2), or (3), or who is subject to a deferred prosecution program under chapter 10.05 RCW, or who is subject to restriction under RCW 46.20.308; and (ii) who has not previously been restricted under this section, a period of ((not less than)) one year;
     (b) For a person who has previously been restricted under (a) of this subsection, a period of ((not less than)) five years;
     (c) For a person who has previously been restricted under (b) of this subsection, a period of ((not less than)) ten years.
     For purposes of this section, "convicted" means being found guilty of an offense or being placed on a deferred prosecution program under chapter 10.05 RCW.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.20.311 and 2001 c 325 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The department shall not suspend a driver's license or privilege to drive a motor vehicle on the public highways for a fixed period of more than one year, except as specifically permitted under RCW 46.20.267, 46.20.342, or other provision of law. Except for a suspension under RCW 46.20.267, 46.20.289, 46.20.291(5), 46.61.740, or 74.20A.320, whenever the license or driving privilege of any person is suspended by reason of a conviction, a finding that a traffic infraction has been committed, pursuant to chapter 46.29 RCW, or pursuant to RCW 46.20.291 or 46.20.308, the suspension shall remain in effect until the person gives and thereafter maintains proof of financial responsibility for the future as provided in chapter 46.29 RCW. If the suspension is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, the department shall determine the person's eligibility for licensing based upon the reports provided by the alcoholism agency or probation department designated under RCW 46.61.5056 and shall deny reinstatement until enrollment and participation in an approved program has been established and the person is otherwise qualified. If the suspension is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, or is the result of administrative action under RCW 46.20.308, and the person is required pursuant to RCW 46.20.720 to drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock or other biological or technical device, the department shall determine the person's eligibility for licensing based upon written verification by an ignition interlock company doing business in the state of Washington of installment of the required device on a vehicle owned and/or operated by the person seeking reinstatement. Whenever the license or driving privilege of any person is suspended as a result of certification of noncompliance with a child support order under chapter 74.20A RCW or a residential or visitation order, the suspension shall remain in effect until the person provides a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the person is in compliance with the order.
     (b)(i) The department shall not issue to the person a new, duplicate, or renewal license until the person pays a reissue fee of twenty dollars.
     (ii) If the suspension is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, or is the result of administrative action under RCW 46.20.308, the reissue fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars.
     (2)(a) Any person whose license or privilege to drive a motor vehicle on the public highways has been revoked, unless the revocation was for a cause which has been removed, is not entitled to have the license or privilege renewed or restored until: (i) After the expiration of one year from the date the license or privilege to drive was revoked; (ii) after the expiration of the applicable revocation period provided by RCW 46.20.3101 or 46.61.5055; (iii) after the expiration of two years for persons convicted of vehicular homicide; or (iv) after the expiration of the applicable revocation period provided by RCW 46.20.265.
     (b)(i) After the expiration of the appropriate period, the person may make application for a new license as provided by law together with a reissue fee in the amount of twenty dollars.
     (ii) If the revocation is the result of a violation of RCW 46.20.308, 46.61.502, or 46.61.504, the reissue fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars. If the revocation is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, the department shall determine the person's eligibility for licensing based upon the reports provided by the alcoholism agency or probation department designated under RCW 46.61.5056 and shall deny reissuance of a license, permit, or privilege to drive until enrollment and participation in an approved program has been established and the person is otherwise qualified. If the revocation is the result of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, or is the result of administrative action under RCW 46.20.308, and the person is required pursuant to RCW 46.20.720 to drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock or other biological or technical device, the department shall determine the person's eligibility for licensing based upon written verification by an ignition interlock company doing business in the state of Washington of installment of the required device on a vehicle owned and/or operated by the person applying for a new license.
     (c) Except for a revocation under RCW 46.20.265, the department shall not then issue a new license unless it is satisfied after investigation of the driving ability of the person that it will be safe to grant the privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the public highways, and until the person gives and thereafter maintains proof of financial responsibility for the future as provided in chapter 46.29 RCW. For a revocation under RCW 46.20.265, the department shall not issue a new license unless it is satisfied after investigation of the driving ability of the person that it will be safe to grant that person the privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the public highways.
     (3)(a) Whenever the driver's license of any person is suspended pursuant to Article IV of the nonresident violators compact or RCW 46.23.020 or 46.20.289 or 46.20.291(5), the department shall not issue to the person any new or renewal license until the person pays a reissue fee of twenty dollars.
     (b) If the suspension is the result of a violation of the laws of this or any other state, province, or other jurisdiction involving (i) the operation or physical control of a motor vehicle upon the public highways while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or (ii) the refusal to submit to a chemical test of the driver's blood alcohol content, the reissue fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars.