HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 254

BYRepresentatives Walk, Schmidt and Gallagher; by request of Department of Licensing

Imposing a penalty fee for the renewal of drivers' licenses that have expired.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     Do pass with amendment.  (27)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Kremen, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Vekich, J. Williams, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Terry Michalson (786-7315)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

A person applying for a new driver' license or a renewal of a previously issued license must pass a driver license examination.  The Department of Licensing may waive all or a portion of the examination for a renewal of a license.  A new license is one issued to a person not previously licensed in the state or to a driver whose Washington driver's license has expired.

A person with an expired driver's license must apply for a new license if they desired to become licensed again.  He or she must take the Department's driver license examination and pay the examination fee of seven dollars in addition to the driver license fee.

Only in a case where a person is outside the state or is unable to renew their drivers' license because of an incapacity may the Department waive all or part of the examination and payment of the seven dollars examination fee. An individual must apply within sixty days of returning to the state or sixty days after the end of the incapacity.

SUMMARY:

A new license is defined as one issued to a driver who has not been previously licensed in the state or to a driver whose previously issued Washington driver's license has been expired for more than four years.

A ten dollar penalty fee shall be charged on applications for renewal of a driver's license which has been expired for less than four years.

The penalty fee is not assessed to those persons who were outside the state or incapacitated at the time of license expiration, provided an application for renewal is filed with the Department within sixty days of returning to the state or sixty days from the end of the incapacity.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  All licenses issued by other jurisdictions and surrendered when making application for a Washington driver's license shall be invalidated by the Department of Licensing.  The invalidated license shall be used as photograph identification until such time as the permanent Washington drivers license is received.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Don Bonner, Department of Licensing.

House Committee - Testified Against: Ken Youngblood, citizen.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Charging a penalty fee for late renewal of driver's licenses eliminates mandatory reexamination and payment of the examination fee.  The penalty fee is commonly used by other states and the Department may require examination of an applicant when deemed appropriate.

House Committee - Testimony Against: The penalty fee would constitute a monetary fine for not exercising a privilege.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Yeas 91; Nays 1; Absent 2; Excused 4

Voting Nay:     Representative Brough

Absent:    Representatives King R, Mr. Speaker

Excused:   Representatives Allen, Dellwo, Lewis, Miller