PERMANENT RULES
Date of Adoption: August 4, 1999.
Purpose: Adoption of agency rules as described in RCW to make towing DUI/suspended drivers' vehicles' mandatory. Secondly, to allow hardship cases to be decided by the appropriate district commander.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.55.113, 46.55.120.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 99-13-134 on June 17, 1999.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
August 23, 1999
Annette M. Sandberg
Chief
OTS-2928.3
VEHICLE IMPOUNDS
When a driver of a vehicle is arrested for a violation of:
| RCW 46.61.502 | Driving under the influence, |
| RCW 46.61.504 | Physical control of vehicle under the influence, |
| RCW 46.20.342 | Driving while license suspended or revoked, |
| RCW 46.20.420 | Operation of motor vehicle under other license/permit prohibited while suspended or revoked, |
If the driver is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 (1)(c) (3rd degree suspended/revoked) and has no convictions for violations of RCW 46.20.342 in the past five years, the vehicle shall be impounded, but no suspended driver hold shall be placed on the vehicle. If the driver is also the registered owner then the vehicle shall be held until all outstanding penalties, fines, and forfeitures owed by him/her are satisfied. The driver/registered owner must present proof from a court of law that he/she has no outstanding penalties, fines, or forfeitures.
If the driver is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 (1)(c) (3rd degree suspended/revoked) and has any prior convictions for violations of RCW 46.20.342 in the past five years, the vehicle shall be held for thirty days.
If the driver of the vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 (1)(a) or (b) (1st or 2nd degree suspended/revoked) and has no convictions for violations of RCW 46.20.342 in the past five years, the vehicle shall be held for thirty days.
If the driver of the vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 (1)(a) or (b) (1st or 2nd degree suspended/revoked) and has been convicted of a violation of RCW 46.20.342 (1)(a) or (b) in the past five years, the vehicle shall be held for sixty days.
If the driver of the vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 (1)(a) or (b) (1st or 2nd degree suspended/revoked) and has been convicted of a violation of RCW 46.20.342 (1)(a) or (b) two or more times in the past five years, the vehicle shall be held for ninety days.
The release of all vehicles impounded under this WAC shall be governed by RCW 46.55.120. Commercially rented vehicles may be impounded, however no suspended driver holds shall be placed upon the vehicle. The rental company shall be notified by phone.
A vehicle may be released prior to the mandated hold period if the spouse of the arrested driver establishes economic or personal hardship with the district commander of the district in which the vehicle was impounded. In making a hardship determination, the district commander shall consider public safety factors, including the driver's criminal history and driving record. All hardship release requests shall be in writing. Any denial or approval of a hardship release shall be in writing and shall include factors considered by the district commander in reaching the decision.
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