BILL REQ. #:  S-2225.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to identifying the use of illegal drivers' licenses when renting a vehicle; adding a new section to chapter 43.43 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that fraudulent or fictitious drivers' licenses are sometimes used to obtain the use of rental vehicles. Unlicensed drivers are operating rental vehicles on state highways and roads. Often these drivers have lost their licenses because of various driving offenses. It is a public safety benefit to the state that these drivers not have access to rental vehicles. The legislature also finds that criminal activity is often facilitated by the use of rental vehicles which are often obtained through the use of illegal drivers' licenses. The legislature declares that existing technology can allow rental car companies to determine in real time only the validity of a driver's license which will allow vehicle rental companies to prevent the illegal rental of vehicles in this state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.43 RCW to read as follows:
     The state patrol and department of licensing shall develop and adopt through joint rule making, in consultation and cooperation with the car and truck renting and leasing association, a program, at no cost to the state, that provides vehicle rental companies with the means to determine in real time only the validity of this state's and other states' drivers' licenses. This program must include (1) provisions requiring rental company employees to report invalid licenses and (2) the procedures by which the invalid licenses are reported.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The state patrol and department of licensing shall report to the legislature by December 31, 2003, on the details of the program developed under section 2 of this act.