(1) The director shall keep a case record on every motor vehicle driver licensed under the laws of this state, together with information on each driver, showing all the convictions and findings of traffic infractions certified by the courts, together with an index cross-reference record of each accident reported relating to such individual with a brief statement of the cause of the accident and whether or not the accident resulted in any fatality. The chief of the Washington state patrol shall furnish the index cross-reference record to the director, with reference to each driver involved in the reported accidents.

     (2) The records shall be for the confidential use of the director, the chief of the Washington state patrol, the director of the Washington traffic safety commission, and for such police officers or other cognizant public officials as may be designated by law. Such case records shall not be admitted into evidence in any court, except where relevant to the prosecution or defense of a criminal charge, or in case appeal is taken from the order of the director, suspending, revoking, canceling, or refusing a vehicle driver's license.

     (3) The director shall tabulate and analyze vehicle driver's case records and suspend, revoke, cancel, or refuse a vehicle driver's license to a person when it is deemed from facts contained in the case record of such person that it is for the best interest of public safety that such person be denied the privilege of operating a motor vehicle. The director shall also suspend a person's driver's license if the person fails to attend or complete a driver improvement interview or fails to abide by conditions of probation under RCW 46.20.335. Whenever the director orders the vehicle driver's license of any such person suspended, revoked, or canceled, or refuses the issuance of a vehicle driver's license, such suspension, revocation, cancellation, or refusal is final and effective unless appeal from the decision of the director is taken as provided by law.

[1998 c 218 § 1; 1998 c 165 § 10; 1993 c 501 § 12; 1992 c 32 § 3; 1989 c 178 § 23; 1988 c 38 § 2; 1984 c 99 § 1; 1982 c 52 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 136 § 83; 1977 ex.s. c 356 § 1; 1967 c 32 § 62; 1961 c 12 § 46.52.120. Prior: 1937 c 189 § 144; RRS § 6360-144.]

NOTES:

     Reviser's note: This section was amended by 1998 c 165 § 10 and by 1998 c 218 § 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

     Effective date -- 1998 c 165 §§ 8-14: See note following RCW 46.52.070.

     Short title -- 1998 c 165: See note following RCW 43.59.010.

     Severability -- Effective dates -- 1989 c 178: See RCW 46.25.900 and 46.25.901.

     Effective date -- Severability -- 1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.