Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Judiciary Committee

HB 2627

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

Young Drivers.

A driver who is under 18 years of age may operate a motor vehicle only if the driver holds either an instruction permit or an intermediate license. The Department of Licensing (DOL) may issue an instruction permit to applicants who are at least 15 years of age and who have passed the knowledge portion of the driver test. The instruction permit is valid for up to one year and allows the holder to operate a motor vehicle on public highways if an instructor or experienced driver occupies the seat beside the driver.

The DOL may issue an intermediate license to applicants who are at least 16 years of age, but younger than 18 years of age, and meet certain other criteria. An intermediate license authorizes the holder to drive without supervision, but it imposes conditions relating to the time of day the holder may drive and the number of passengers in the vehicle.

A driver who is over 18 years of age may also operate a vehicle with an instruction permit, but he or she will be issued only a regular driver's license upon completion of the instruction period and not an intermediate license. A regular driver's license entitles the holder to operate a motor vehicle without any restrictions regarding the time of day he or she may drive or the number of passengers in the vehicle.

National Safety Council.

The National Safety Council (Council) is a nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to protect life and promote health by preventing injuries and death. Founded in 1913, the Council provides a variety of courses, including courses related to first aid, workplace safety, and driver's safety.

Summary of Bill:

The Alive at 25 Act is created, allowing cities, towns, and counties to establish, by ordinance, a young driver safety training program and authorize a court to require attendance at such a program by drivers younger than 25. "Young driver safety training program" means the Council's Alive at 25 defensive driving course. The ordinance may authorize the provider of the program to charge a fee for attendance. Participating jurisdictions may make appropriations for training program operations and accept and expend gifts, donations, and any other money from any source given for the purpose of the training program.

The purpose of the program, specifically designed for young drivers, is to instruct, educate, and inform attendees on defensive driving techniques and other strategies for staying safe on the road. The program must meet the following requirements:

The program instructor must successfully complete the instructor course and gain certification.
Core training materials used in the program must have been developed specifically for use in the program.
A program session must include at least three and one-half hours of instruction time.
Program sessions must be conducted in a live, interactive format focused specifically on topics related to young driver safety, and topics covered must include alcohol and drug awareness, traffic laws, and other issues commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents involving drivers younger than 25.

A court in which the program has been established may order a person between 16 and 24 to attend as a condition on the suspension of a sentence or deferral of entry of a court order or as part of a sentence imposed following conviction for the following moving violations:

racing;
speeding too fast for conditions;
speeding in excess of the maximum limit; and/or
failure to stop.

Failure to attend, without good cause, within 30 days after a court order or sentence is put in place, or failure to attend the next session with space available if longer than 30 days after the sentence or order is put in place, results in termination of the deferral.

A person may not be required to attend unless the program is offered within the city or town or within a reasonable distance of the person's residence. A program may permit any person between 16 and 24 years old to enroll and attend voluntarily, but only if space is available.

This does not repeal, amend, or modify any law authorizing the use of traffic school or relicensing diversion programs, but is an additional and alternative program. A deferral granted under this new chapter must be included in the determination of total deferrals a person may receive.