(1)(a) A
person who violates RCW 46.20.342(1)(c)(iv) in a jurisdiction
that does not have a relicensing diversion program shall be
provided with an abstract of his or her driving record by the
court or the prosecuting attorney, in addition to a list of his
or her unpaid traffic offense related fines and the contact
information for each jurisdiction or collection agency to which
money is owed.
(b) A fee of up to twenty dollars may be imposed by the
court in addition to any fee required by the department for
provision of the driving abstract.
(2)(a) Superior courts or courts of limited jurisdiction in
counties or cities are authorized to participate or provide
relicensing diversion programs to persons who violate RCW 46.20.342(1)(c)(iv).
(b) Eligibility for the relicensing diversion program shall
be limited to violators with no more than four convictions under
RCW 46.20.342(1)(c)(iv) in the ten years preceding the date of
entering the relicensing diversion program, subject to a less
restrictive rule imposed by the presiding judge of the county
district court or municipal court. People subject to arrest
under a warrant are not eligible for the diversion program.
(c) The diversion option may be offered at the discretion of
the prosecuting attorney before charges are filed, or by the
court after charges are filed.
(d) A person who is the holder of a commercial driver's
license or who was operating a commercial motor vehicle at the
time of the violation of RCW 46.20.342(1)(c)(iv) may not
participate in the diversion program under this section.
(e) A relicensing diversion program that is structured to
occur after charges are filed may charge participants a one-time
fee of up to one hundred dollars, which is not subject to
chapters 3.50, 3.62, and 35.20 RCW, and shall be used to support
administration of the program. The fee of up to one hundred
dollars shall be included in the total to be paid by the
participant in the relicensing diversion program.
(3) A relicensing diversion program shall be designed to
assist suspended drivers to regain their license and insurance
and pay outstanding fines.
(4)(a) Counties and cities that operate relicensing
diversion programs shall, subject to available funds, provide
information to the administrative office of the courts on an
annual basis regarding the eligibility criteria used for the
program, the number of referrals from law enforcement, the number
of participants accepted into the program, the number of
participants who regain their driver's license and insurance, the
total amount of fines collected, the costs associated with the
program, and other information as determined by the office.
(b) The administrative office of the courts is directed,
subject to available funds, to compile and analyze the data
required to be submitted in this section and develop
recommendations for a best practices model for relicensing
diversion programs.
[2009 c 490 § 1.]