HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

EHB 2425

BYRepresentatives Rasmussen, Dorn, McLean, Ebersole, Rayburn, Heavey, Van Luven, Kirby, Spanel, Walker, K. Wilson, Betrozoff, Brumsickle, Jesernig, Moyer, Raiter, Winsley, Wood, S. Wilson, Brough, Fuhrman, Wolfe, Miller, Sprenkle, Todd, Crane, Smith, Rector, Wineberry, Forner, Tate, Basich, Youngsman, Zellinsky, May, O'Brien and Ferguson

Authorizing revocation of driving privileges for violation of drug and alcohol laws.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Forner, Hargrove, P. King, Moyer, Schmidt, Scott, D. Sommers and Tate.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Belcher, Dellwo, Inslee, R. Meyers, H. Myers and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 13, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1988 and 1989, the Legislature enacted laws that required the suspension of a person's driving privileges when the person committed alcohol or drug law violations, whether or not the violations were related to driving.  The current law applies generally to persons under the age of 18 with respect to alcohol law violations and persons under the age of 21 with respect to drug law violations.  A first violation results in the loss of driving privileges for one year or until age 17, whichever is later.  A second or subsequent violation results in loss of driving privileges for two years or until age 18, whichever is later.

A person convicted of a motor vehicle law violation that results in the loss of driving privileges may be able to get an "occupational" driver's license.  Such a license allows the person to drive when necessary for the person's employment.

SUMMARY:

A person under the age of 18 who is convicted of a liquor law violation will lose his or her privilege to drive.  A person of any age who is convicted of a drug law violation will lose his or her privilege to drive.

A person who loses his or her privilege to drive for a non-traffic related drug or alcohol violation, may request an occupational driver's license.  Such a person may also request a special "treatment" driver's license to permit him or her to attend an alcohol or drug treatment program.

The House Judiciary Committee and Senate Law & Justice Committee are to study ways of deterring 18, 19, and 20 year olds from committing nondriving alcohol law violations.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 4, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Leann Chaney, Washington State PTA; Bob Seeber, Restaurant Association; Gerri Woolf, MADD; Gene Peterson, Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Jerry Sheehan, ACLU.

House Committee - Testimony For:    These kinds of laws have worked well in other states to reduce traffic accidents.  Loss of driving privileges is a real deterrent to alcohol and drug law violations.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      By treating 19 and 20-year old adults differently than those adults 21 and older, the bill violates the requirement of equal protection of the laws.