By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Seattle Times published a story in its newspaper yesterday about a Randle man whose case coming before the Washington State Supreme Court could – if he wins – have widespread impact on those whose driver’s licenses have been suspended due to unpaid traffic tickets.
Stephen C. Johnson’s attorney argues the suspension, along with thousands of others, is unconstitutional because the state imposed a criminal penalty on an individual for failing to pay a fine without inquiring into the financial situation of the individual, news reporter Stephanie Schendel writes.
Read more here
“jack says:
Monday, April 8, 2013 at 3:43 pm
You are all wrong. The constitution says you have the right to travel this land with NO license.”
Your correct of course, but the right to travel does not equal the right to operate a motorized vehicle without a license. Walk or ride all you want, but don’t drive a car or fly a plane without a license.
that is a cdl washington issues. they cant issue anything else cause it is unconstitutional.
You are all wrong. The constitution says you have the right to travel this land with NO license.
Did anybody hear anything about the results of this case?
Penny, while I sympathize for your son, I have a hard time reading your post. Got a new kindle or smart phone? 🙂 They can be tricky to figure out. Thanks for sharing though.
OK how about this.. my son was in aphganatain for a year. 2 years befor that japan . MARINE.. ok he got a ticket on the way to cali. in portland.. when he got back his liesence was still valid.. k he got pulled over .. they said he had a suspended liecnce.. he said no they arrested him.. took him to jail.come to find out portland suspended his liesces .. he never had a orgon liesces .. he has a wa liescene .. he never got notified for this suspention.. his mail was sent to the place he had lived for 10 years an there was no notice from OR. or washington.. thats wrong
.. so to get his liescens back.. he had too pay a renistatment fee in OR. an he has never had a Liecensce there ever… PLUS pay a renstatment fee in WA. befor he could get his liescencs … OK jailed on top of it all because DMV dont send notices an say they do an we pay for it that wrong
RCW 96 does not exist. The other RCW dealing with driver’s licenses is RCW 46.20.001
RCW 46.20.001
License required — Rights and restriction.
(1) No person may drive a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state without first obtaining a valid driver’s license issued to Washington residents under this chapter. The only exceptions to this requirement are those expressly allowed by RCW 46.20.025.
(2) A person licensed as a driver under this chapter:
(a) May exercise the privilege upon all highways in this state;
(b) May not be required by a political subdivision to obtain any other license to exercise the privilege; and
(c) May not have more than one valid driver’s license at any time.
I think the key word in this is PRIVILEGE… driving is not a right in Washington it is a privilege. If you can’t pay the fine don’t do the crime.
RCW 96?????? Syphilis enduced dimensia is spreading quickly in Lewis County. Read about it in tomorrow’s breaking news column. Flouride may be the cure for that!
Let us know when you find a RCW 96. something.
If it existed, then why wouldn’t the attorneys be making a fortune getting suspended drivers off the hook?
Finally Another Patriot!
RE: Free Air-You are close but no cigar.. This law is under 96. laws. I will be looking it up tonight to find it. All law enforcement is aware of it and they are taught not say anything cause if they say anything they can not legally right a ticket. WSP knows of it and is taught it in class. Thanks for trying thou.
Troy H.
I think your looking at RCW46.20.025 which shows what people can operate a motorized vehicle on roads in Washington State without a Washington State Drivers license.
I’m betting Mr. Johnson did not qualify.
46.20.025 Persons exempt from licensing
The following persons may operate a motor vehicle on a Washington highway without a valid Washington
driver’s license:
(1) A member of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or in the service
of the National Guard of this state or any other state, if licensed by the military to operate an official motor
vehicle in such service;
(2) A nonresident driver who is at least:
(a) Sixteen years of age and has immediate possession of a valid driver’s license issued to the driver by his
or her home state; or
(b) Fifteen years of age with:
(i) A valid instruction permit issued to the driver by his or her home state; and
(ii) A licensed driver who has had at least five years of driving experience occupying a seat beside the
driver; or
(c) Sixteen years of age and has immediate possession of a valid driver’s license issued to the driver by his
or her home country. A nonresident driver may operate a motor vehicle in this state under this subsection
(2)(c) for up to one year;
(3) Any person operating special highway construction equipment as defined in RCW 46.04.551;
(4) Any person while driving or operating any farm tractor or implement of husbandry that is only incidentally
operated or moved over a highway; or
(5) An operator of a locomotive upon rails, including a railroad crossing over a public highway. A locomotive
operator is not required to display a driver’s license to any law enforcement officer in connection with the
operation of a locomotive or train within this state.
I really don’t know the exact law but it you look under the 96. laws of the State of Washington it states that a person in the this state does not need a license to drive on the roads and or tab there cars. But if you ask a officer for the law or talk about it they say they know nothing about it so they can wright the ticket. There is a lot of people out there that could be taken better care of their families if they had there license. It is time that the government quit taken are money this way. Maybe some of them should be suspended to and they would not be wearing a bandage. Also remember this that if you see a automobile with a green, blue, black bear on the back window those are either police officers or relation to a officer and they will never be pulled over. That is a sign for the officer to who is driving the vehicle.
So he can’t afford to pay a traffic ticket, but can afford an Attorney to fight. With all the money he has dumped into this he probably could have got his license back.
yes, its non sence to take a persons licences over a fine. how are they suppose to pay it when they cant even drive to work ! stupid