SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6349

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Transportation, January 31, 2012

Title: An act relating to notifications mailed to habitual traffic offenders.

Brief Description: Modifying the delivery of notifications to habitual traffic offenders.

Sponsors: Senators Fain, Eide, Litzow, Haugen and Hill.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/30/12, 1/31/12 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Minority Member; Fain, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Delvin, Ericksen, Hill, Hobbs, Litzow, Ranker, Rolfes and Swecker.

Staff: Kim Johnson (786-7472)

Background: The Washington Habitual Traffic Offenders Act sets forth a statutory scheme for identifying those persons committing traffic offenses who meet the definition of habitual offender. State law identifies certain serious traffic offenses that trigger the habitual offender categorization, due either to the seriousness of the offense or the number and/or frequency of specified offenses.

A person meeting the definition of habitual offender is subject to driver license revocation. The Department of Licensing (DOL) is required to notify a habitual offender of such license revocation by certified mail. Certified mail allows the sender to see when the mail was delivered and requires the signature of the recipient. This service currently costs $3.29.

Summary of Bill: DOL is authorized to utilize first class mail, rather than certified mail, to notify a habitual traffic offender of the license revocation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: None.

Persons Testifying: No one.