SB 5328, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D–Shoreline), makes a number of changes to the crime of driving with a suspended license, including limiting the circumstances under which a license suspension can occur.

The bill:

• Restricts when a person’s license may be suspended. The bill eliminates failure to respond or appear in connection with a traffic infraction as a reason for suspension, unless for a criminal citation or complaint.The bill also authorizes the Department of Licensing to reinstate all licenses suspended for these reasons.
• A person is guilty of DWLS 3 on the fourth violation of DWLS 4 within a four-year period.
• Creates the crime of driving with a suspended license in the fourth degree (DWLS 4) which is subject to a penalty of $250. A person commits DWLS 4 if the person drives while their license is revoked for one of the following reasons:
  • the person committed an offense in another state that, if committed in this state, would not be grounds for suspension or revocation of the person's driver's license;
  • the person's license has been suspended or revoked by reason of one or more of the items listed in DWLS 2, DWLS 3, or for a failure to appear at a requested hearing for a noncriminal moving violation or a failure to respond to a notice of a traffic infraction, but was eligible to reinstate the driver's license or driving privilege at the time of the violation; or
  • the person has received traffic citations or notices of a traffic infraction relating to an intermediate driver's license that resulted in a suspension.

The bill has already passed out of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, but was referred to another policy committee, Transportation.

Dates to remember

SB 5328 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday, February 20 at 3:30 pm.