RCW 46.25.060
Knowledge and skills test -- Instruction
permit.
(1)(a) No person may be issued a commercial driver's
license unless that person is a resident of this state, has
successfully completed a course of instruction in the operation
of a commercial motor vehicle that has been approved by the
director or has been certified by an employer as having the
skills and training necessary to operate a commercial motor
vehicle safely, and has passed a knowledge and skills test for
driving a commercial motor vehicle that complies with minimum
federal standards established by federal regulation enumerated in
49 C.F.R. part 383, subparts G and H, and has satisfied all other
requirements of the CMVSA in addition to other requirements
imposed by state law or federal regulation. The tests must be
prescribed and conducted by the department. In addition to the
fee charged for issuance or renewal of any license, the applicant
shall pay a fee of no more than ten dollars for each classified
knowledge examination, classified endorsement knowledge
examination, or any combination of classified license and
endorsement knowledge examinations. The applicant shall pay a
fee of no more than one hundred dollars for each classified skill
examination or combination of classified skill examinations
conducted by the department.
(b) The department may authorize a person, including an
agency of this or another state, an employer, a private driver
training facility, or other private institution, or a department,
agency, or instrumentality of local government, to administer the
skills test specified by this section under the following
conditions:
(i) The test is the same which would otherwise be
administered by the state;
(ii) The third party has entered into an agreement with the
state that complies with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. part
383.75; and
(iii) The director has adopted rules as to the third party
testing program and the development and justification for fees
charged by any third party.
(c) If the applicant's primary use of a commercial driver's
license is for any of the following, then the applicant shall pay
a fee of no more than seventy-five dollars for each classified
skill examination or combination of classified skill examinations
whether conducted by the department or a third-party tester:
(i) Public benefit not-for-profit corporations that are
federally supported head start programs; or
(ii) Public benefit not-for-profit corporations that support
early childhood education and assistance programs as described in
RCW 43.215.405(4).
(2) The department shall work with the office of the
superintendent of public instruction to develop modified P1 and
P2 skill examinations that also include the skill examination
components required to obtain an "S" endorsement. In no event
may a new applicant for an "S" endorsement be required to take
two separate examinations to obtain an "S" endorsement and either
a P1 or P2 endorsement, unless that applicant is upgrading his or
her existing commercial driver's license to include an "S"
endorsement. The combined P1/S or P2/S skill examination must be
offered to the applicant at the same cost as a regular P1 or P2
skill examination.
(3) The department may waive the skills test and the
requirement for completion of a course of instruction in the
operation of a commercial motor vehicle specified in this section
for a commercial driver's license applicant who meets the
requirements of 49 C.F.R. part 383.77.
(4) A commercial driver's license or commercial driver's
instruction permit may not be issued to a person while the person
is subject to a disqualification from driving a commercial motor
vehicle, or while the person's driver's license is suspended,
revoked, or canceled in any state, nor may a commercial driver's
license be issued to a person who has a commercial driver's
license issued by any other state unless the person first
surrenders all such licenses, which must be returned to the
issuing state for cancellation.
(5)(a) The department may issue a commercial driver's
instruction permit to an applicant who is at least eighteen years
of age and holds a valid Washington state driver's license and
who has submitted a proper application, passed the general
knowledge examination required for issuance of a commercial
driver's license under subsection (1) of this section, and paid
the appropriate fee for the knowledge examination and an
application fee of ten dollars.
(b) A commercial driver's instruction permit may not be
issued for a period to exceed six months. Only one renewal or
reissuance may be granted within a two-year period.
(c) The holder of a commercial driver's instruction permit
may drive a commercial motor vehicle on a highway only when
accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license valid
for the type of vehicle driven who occupies a seat beside the
individual for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the
commercial motor vehicle. The holder of a commercial driver's
instruction permit is not authorized to operate a commercial
motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials.
(d) The department shall transmit the fees collected for
commercial driver's instruction permits to the state treasurer.
[2007 c 418 § 1; 2004 c 187 § 3; 2002 c 352 § 18; 1989 c 178 § 8.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2007 c 418: "This act takes effect January 15, 2008." [2007 c 418 § 2.]
Effective dates -- 2002 c 352: See note following RCW 46.09.070.