Driver course/work zones

AN ACT Relating to establishing a driver work zone and first 1
responder safety course requirement; amending RCW 46.20.075 and 2
46.63.200; adding a new section to chapter 46.20 RCW; adding a new 3
section to chapter 43.59 RCW; and providing an effective date.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 46.20 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1) An applicant for a new driver's license under the age of 26 8
must pass an online course approved by the department on driver work 9
zone and first responder safety. 10
(2) The department may waive the requirement in subsection (1) of 11
this section if the department finds the online course is not 12
available at the time of application. 13
(3) For the purposes of this section, "new driver's license" 14
means a driver's license issued to a driver who has not previously 15
been issued a driver's license in this state. 16
Sec. 2. RCW 46.20.075 and 2024 c 162 s 1 are each amended to 17
read as follows: 18
(1) An intermediate license authorizes the holder to drive a 19
motor vehicle under the conditions specified in this section. An 20
S-1293.1
SENATE BILL 5717
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Lovick, King, Braun, Chapman, Cleveland, Cortes,
Hasegawa, Liias, Lovelett, Nobles, Orwall, Valdez, and J. Wilson
Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
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applicant for an intermediate license must be at least 16 years of 1
age and: 2
(a) Have possessed a valid instruction permit for a period of not 3
less than six months; 4
(b) Have passed a driver licensing examination administered by 5
the department; 6
(c) Have passed a course of driver's education in accordance with 7
the standards established in RCW 46.20.100; 8
(d) Have met the applicable driver work zone and first responder 9
safety course requirement under section 1 of this act;10
(e) Present certification by his or her parent, guardian, 11
employer, or responsible adult to the department stating (i) that the 12
applicant has had at least 50 hours of driving experience, 10 of 13
which were at night, during which the driver was supervised by a 14
person at least 21 years of age who has had a valid driver's license 15
for at least three years, and (ii) that the applicant has not been 16
issued a notice of traffic infraction or cited for a traffic 17
violation that is pending at the time of the application for the 18
intermediate license; 19
(((e))) (f) Not have been convicted of or found to have committed 20
a traffic violation within the last six months before the application 21
for the intermediate license; and 22
(((f))) (g) Not have been adjudicated for an offense involving 23
the use of alcohol or drugs during the period the applicant held an 24
instruction permit. 25
(2) For the first six months after the issuance of an 26
intermediate license or until the holder reaches 18 years of age, 27
whichever occurs first, the holder of the license may not operate a 28
motor vehicle that is carrying any passengers under the age of 20 who 29
are not members of the holder's immediate family. For the remaining 30
period of the intermediate license, the holder may not operate a 31
motor vehicle that is carrying more than three passengers who are 32
under the age of 20 who are not members of the holder's immediate 33
family. 34
(3) The holder of an intermediate license may not operate a motor 35
vehicle between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. except (a) when the 36
holder is accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years 37
of age, or (b) for school, religious, or employment activities for 38
the holder or a member of the holder's immediate family as defined in 39
this section. 40
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(4) The holder of an intermediate license may not operate a 1
moving motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device 2
unless the holder is using the device to report illegal activity, 3
summon medical or other emergency help, or prevent injury to a person 4
or property. 5
(5) It is a traffic infraction for the holder of an intermediate 6
license to operate a motor vehicle in violation of the restrictions 7
imposed under this section. 8
(6) Except for a violation of subsection (4) of this section, 9
enforcement of this section by law enforcement officers may be 10
accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a motor 11
vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of this title or 12
an equivalent local ordinance or some other offense.13
(7) An intermediate licensee may drive at any hour without 14
restrictions on the number of passengers in the vehicle if necessary 15
for agricultural purposes. 16
(8) An intermediate licensee may drive at any hour without 17
restrictions on the number of passengers in the vehicle if, for the 18
12-month period following the issuance of the intermediate license, 19
he or she: 20
(a) Has not been involved in an accident involving only one motor 21
vehicle; 22
(b) Has not been involved in an accident where he or she was 23
cited in connection with the accident or was found to have caused the 24
accident; 25
(c) Has not been involved in an accident where no one was cited 26
or was found to have caused the accident; and 27
(d) Has not been convicted of or found to have committed a 28
traffic offense described in chapter 46.61 RCW or violated 29
restrictions placed on an intermediate licensee under this section.30
(9) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions 31
apply: 32
(a) "Immediate family" means an individual's spouse or domestic 33
partner, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, 34
grandparent, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the 35
individual, including foster children living in the household, and 36
the spouse or the domestic partner of any such person, and a child, 37
stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, 38
half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the individual's spouse or 39
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domestic partner, and the spouse or the domestic partner of any such 1
person. 2
(b) "Responsible adult" means a person specifically authorized by 3
the department who is over the age of 21 and: 4
(i) Has a familial, kinship, or caretaker relationship to a 5
minor; 6
(ii) Is an educational, medical, legal, social service, or 7
Washington state licensed mental health professional who provides 8
support directly to a minor in a professional capacity; or9
(iii) Is an employee of a government entity and provides support 10
to a minor in a professional capacity. 11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.59 12
RCW to read as follows: 13
The commission is required to contract with a provider of an 14
online driver work zone and first responder safety course to host an 15
online course that satisfies the intermediate driver's license 16
requirement under section 1 of this act to be made available at no 17
cost to Washington residents who are between the ages of 15 and 25.18
Sec. 4. RCW 46.63.200 and 2024 c 308 s 4 are each amended to 19
read as follows: 20
(1) This section applies to the use of speed safety camera 21
systems in state highway work zones. 22
(2) Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement officer 23
from issuing a notice of infraction to a person in control of a 24
vehicle at the time a violation occurs under RCW 46.63.030(1) (a), 25
(b), or (c). 26
(3)(a) The department of transportation is responsible for all 27
actions related to the operation and administration of speed safety 28
camera systems in state highway work zones including, but not limited 29
to, the procurement and administration of contracts necessary for the 30
implementation of speed safety camera systems, the mailing of notices 31
of infraction, and the development and maintenance of a public-facing 32
website for the purpose of educating the traveling public about the 33
use of speed safety camera systems in state highway work zones. Prior 34
to the use of a speed safety camera system to capture a violation 35
established in this section for enforcement purposes, the department 36
of transportation, in consultation with the Washington state patrol, 37
department of licensing, office of administrative hearings, 38
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Washington traffic safety commission, and other organizations 1
committed to protecting civil rights, must adopt rules addressing 2
such actions and take all necessary steps to implement this section.3
(b) The Washington state patrol is responsible for all actions 4
related to the enforcement and adjudication of speed violations under 5
this section including, but not limited to, notice of infraction 6
verification and issuance authorization, and determining which types 7
of emergency vehicles are exempt from being issued notices of 8
infraction under this section. Prior to the use of a speed safety 9
camera system to capture a violation established in this section for 10
enforcement purposes, the Washington state patrol, in consultation 11
with the department of transportation, department of licensing, 12
office of administrative hearings, Washington traffic safety 13
commission, and other organizations committed to protecting civil 14
rights, must adopt rules addressing such actions and take all 15
necessary steps to implement this section. 16
(c) When establishing rules under this subsection (3), the 17
department of transportation and the Washington state patrol may also 18
consult with other public and private agencies that have an interest 19
in the use of speed safety camera systems in state highway work 20
zones. 21
(4)(a) No person may drive a vehicle in a state highway work zone 22
at a speed greater than that allowed by traffic control devices.23
(b) A notice of infraction may only be issued under this section 24
if a speed safety camera system captures a speed violation in a state 25
highway work zone when workers are present. 26
(5) The penalty for a speed safety camera system violation is: 27
(a) $0 for the first violation; and (b) $248 for the second 28
violation, and for each violation thereafter. 29
(6) During the 30-day period after the first speed safety camera 30
system is put in place, the department is required to conduct a 31
public awareness campaign to inform the public of the use of speed 32
safety camera systems in state highway work zones.33
(7)(a) A notice of infraction issued under this section may be 34
mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within 30 days of the 35
violation, or to the renter of a vehicle within 30 days of 36
establishing the renter's name and address. The law enforcement 37
officer issuing the notice of infraction shall include with it a 38
certificate or facsimile thereof, based upon inspection of 39
photographs, microphotographs, or electronic images produced by a 40
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speed safety camera stating the facts supporting the notice of 1
infraction. This certificate or facsimile is prima facie evidence of 2
the facts contained in it and is admissible in a proceeding charging 3
a violation under this section. The photographs, microphotographs, or 4
electronic images evidencing the violation must be available for 5
inspection and admission into evidence in a proceeding to adjudicate 6
the liability for the violation. 7
(b) A notice of infraction represents a determination that an 8
infraction has been committed, and the determination will be final 9
unless contested as provided under this section. 10
(c) A person receiving a notice of infraction based on evidence 11
detected by a speed safety camera system must, within 30 days of 12
receiving the notice of infraction: (i) Except for a first violation 13
under subsection (5)(a) of this section, remit payment in the amount 14
of the penalty assessed for the violation; (ii) contest the 15
determination that the infraction occurred by following the 16
instructions on the notice of infraction; or (iii) admit to the 17
infraction but request a hearing to explain mitigating circumstances 18
surrounding the infraction. 19
(d) If a person fails to respond to a notice of infraction, a 20
final order shall be entered finding that the person committed the 21
infraction and assessing monetary penalties required under subsection 22
(5)(b) of this section. 23
(e) If a person contests the determination that the infraction 24
occurred or requests a mitigation hearing, the notice of infraction 25
shall be referred to the office of administrative hearings for 26
adjudication consistent with chapter 34.05 RCW. 27
(f) At a hearing to contest an infraction, the agency issuing the 28
infraction has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the 29
evidence, that the infraction was committed. 30
(g) A person may request a payment plan at any time for the 31
payment of any penalty or other monetary obligation associated with 32
an infraction under this section. The agency issuing the infraction 33
shall provide information about how to submit evidence of inability 34
to pay, how to obtain a payment plan, and that failure to pay or 35
enter into a payment plan may result in collection action or 36
nonrenewal of the vehicle registration. The office of administrative 37
hearings may authorize a payment plan if it determines that a person 38
is not able to pay the monetary obligation, and it may modify a 39
payment plan at any time. 40
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(8)(a) Speed safety camera systems may only take photographs, 1
microphotographs, or electronic images of the vehicle and vehicle 2
license plate and only while a speed violation is occurring. The 3
photograph, microphotograph, or electronic image must not reveal the 4
face of the driver or any passengers in the vehicle. The department 5
of transportation shall consider installing speed safety camera 6
systems in a manner that minimizes the impact of camera flash on 7
drivers. 8
(b) The registered owner of a vehicle is responsible for a 9
traffic infraction under RCW 46.63.030 unless the registered owner 10
overcomes the presumption in RCW 46.63.075 or, in the case of a 11
rental car business, satisfies the conditions under (f) of this 12
subsection. If appropriate under the circumstances, a renter 13
identified under (f)(i) of this subsection is responsible for the 14
traffic infraction. 15
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all photographs, 16
microphotographs, or electronic images, or any other personally 17
identifying data prepared under this section are for the exclusive 18
use of the Washington state patrol and department of transportation 19
in the discharge of duties under this section and are not open to the 20
public and may not be used in court in a pending action or proceeding 21
unless the action or proceeding relates to a speed violation under 22
this section. This data may be used in administrative appeal 23
proceedings relative to a violation under this section.24
(d) All locations where speed safety camera systems are used must 25
be clearly marked before activation of the camera system by placing 26
signs in locations that clearly indicate to a driver that they are 27
entering a state highway work zone where posted speed limits are 28
monitored by a speed safety camera system. Additionally, where 29
feasible and constructive, radar speed feedback signs will be placed 30
in advance of the speed safety camera system to assist drivers in 31
complying with posted speed limits. Signs placed in these locations 32
must follow the specifications and guidelines under the manual of 33
uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways as adopted 34
by the department of transportation under chapter 47.36 RCW.35
(e) Imposition of a penalty for a speed violation detected 36
through the use of speed safety camera systems shall not be deemed a 37
conviction as defined in RCW 46.25.010, and shall not be part of the 38
registered owner's driving record under RCW 46.52.101 and 46.52.120. 39
Additionally, infractions generated by the use of speed safety camera 40
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systems under this section shall be processed in the same manner as 1
parking infractions, including for the purposes of RCW 46.16A.120 and 2
46.20.270(2). 3
(f) If the registered owner of the vehicle is a rental car 4
business, the department of transportation shall, before a notice of 5
infraction may be issued under this section, provide a written notice 6
to the rental car business that a notice of infraction may be issued 7
to the rental car business if the rental car business does not, 8
within 30 days of receiving the written notice, provide to the 9
issuing agency by return mail: 10
(i)(A) A statement under oath stating the name and known mailing 11
address of the individual driving or renting the vehicle when the 12
speed violation occurred; 13
(B) A statement under oath that the business is unable to 14
determine who was driving or renting the vehicle at the time the 15
speed violation occurred because the vehicle was stolen at the time 16
of the violation. A statement provided under this subsection 17
(8)(f)(i)(B) must be accompanied by a copy of a filed police report 18
regarding the vehicle theft; or 19
(C) In lieu of identifying the vehicle operator, payment of the 20
applicable penalty. 21
(ii) Timely mailing of a statement to the department of 22
transportation relieves a rental car business of any liability under 23
this chapter for the notice of infraction. 24
(9) Revenue generated from the deployment of speed safety camera 25
systems must be deposited into the highway safety fund and first used 26
exclusively for the operating and administrative costs under this 27
section. The operation of speed safety camera systems is intended to 28
increase safety in state highway work zones by changing driver 29
behavior. Consequently, any revenue generated that exceeds the 30
operating and administrative costs under this section must be 31
distributed for the purpose of traffic safety including, but not 32
limited to, driver training education , including to fund the online 33
work zone and first responder safety course required under section 1 34
of this act, and local DUI emphasis patrols. 35
(10) The Washington state patrol and department of 36
transportation, in collaboration with the Washington traffic safety 37
commission, must report to the transportation committees of the 38
legislature by July 1, 2025, and biennially thereafter, on the data 39
and efficacy of speed safety camera system use in state highway work 40
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zones. The final report due on July 1, 2029, must include a 1
recommendation on whether or not to continue such speed safety camera 2
system use beyond June 30, 2030. 3
(11) For the purposes of this section: 4
(a) "Speed safety camera system" means employing the use of speed 5
measuring devices and cameras synchronized to automatically record 6
one or more sequenced photographs, microphotographs, or other 7
electronic images of a motor vehicle that exceeds a posted state 8
highway work zone speed limit as detected by the speed measuring 9
devices. 10
(b) "State highway work zone" means an area of any highway with 11
construction, maintenance, utility work, or incident response 12
activities authorized by the department of transportation. A state 13
highway work zone is identified by the placement of temporary traffic 14
control devices that may include signs, channelizing devices, 15
barriers, pavement markings, and/or work vehicles with warning 16
lights. It extends from the first warning sign or high intensity 17
rotating, flashing, oscillating, or strobe lights on a vehicle to the 18
end road work sign or the last temporary traffic control device or 19
vehicle. 20
(12) This section expires June 30, 2030. 21
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act takes effect January 1, 2026.22
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