Temporary restricted, occupational licenses — Application — Eligibility — Restrictions — Cancellation. (Effective January 1, 2029.)
RCW 46.20.391
in effect(1) Any person licensed under this chapter who is convicted of an offense relating to motor vehicles for which suspension or revocation of the driver's license is mandatory, other than vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, may submit to the department an application for a temporary restricted driver's license. The department, upon receipt of the prescribed fee and upon determining that the petitioner is eligible to receive the license, may issue a temporary restricted driver's license and may set definite restrictions as provided in RCW 46.20.394 . (2)(a) A person licensed under this chapter whose driver's license is suspended administratively due to failure to appear or respond pursuant to RCW 46.20.289 ; a violation of the financial responsibility laws under chapter 46.29 RCW; or for multiple violations within a specified period of time under RCW 46.20.291 , may apply to the department for an occupational driver's license. (b) An occupational driver's license issued to an applicant described in (a) of this subsection shall be valid for the period of the suspension or revocation. (3) An applicant for an occupational or temporary restricted driver's license who qualifies under subsection (1) or (2) of this section is eligible to receive such license only if: (a) Within seven years immediately preceding the date of the offense that gave rise to the present conviction or incident, the applicant has not committed vehicular homicide under RCW 46.61.520 or vehicular assault under RCW 46.61.522 ; and (b) The applicant demonstrates that it is necessary for him or her to operate a motor vehicle because he or she: (i) Is engaged in an occupation or trade that makes it essential that he or she operate a motor vehicle; (ii) Is undergoing continuing health care or providing continuing care to another who is dependent upon the applicant; (iii) Is enrolled in an educational institution and pursuing a course of study leading to a diploma, degree, or other certification of successful educational completion; (iv) Is undergoing substance abuse treatment or is participating in meetings of a 12-step group such as Alcoholics Anonymous that requires the petitioner to drive to or from the treatment or meetings; (v) Is fulfilling court-ordered community service responsibilities; (vi) Is in a program that assists persons who are enrolled in a WorkFirst program pursuant to chapter 74.08A RCW to become gainfully employed and the program requires a driver's license; (vii) Is in an apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or welfare-to-work program; or (viii) Presents evidence that he or she has applied for a position in an apprenticeship or on-the-job training program for which a driver's license is required to begin the program, provided that a license granted under this provision shall be in effect for no longer than 14 days; and (c) The applicant files satisfactory proof of financial responsibility under chapter 46.29 RCW; and (d) Upon receipt of evidence that a holder of an occupational driver's license granted under this subsection is no longer enrolled in an apprenticeship or on-the-job training program, the director shall give written notice by first-class mail to the driver that the occupational driver's license shall be canceled. If at any time before the cancellation goes into effect the driver submits evidence of continued enrollment in the program, the cancellation shall be stayed. If the cancellation becomes effective, the driver may obtain, at no additional charge, a new occupational driver's license upon submittal of evidence of enrollment in another program that meets the criteria set forth in this subsection; and (e) The department shall not issue an occupational driver's license under (b)(iv) of this subsection if the applicant is able to receive transit services sufficient to allow for the applicant's participation in the programs referenced under (b)(iv) of this subsection. (4)(a)(i) If a person has applied for a temporary restricted driver's license because the person's license has been suspended under RCW 46.61.500 (2), the terms of a license issued under this section must require the person to use a properly functioning intelligent speed assistance device while operating a motor vehicle. (ii) If a person has applied for an occupational driver's license because the person's license has been suspended administratively as a result of an accumulation of moving violations under RCW 46.20.2892 , and at least one of the violations was for excessive speeding, the terms of an occupational driver's license issued under this section must require the person to use a properly functioning intelligent speed assistance device while operating a motor vehicle. (b) A person subject to the requirements in (a) of this subsection may not operate a motor vehicle without such a properly functioning device during the duration of the license. (c)(i) A person who operates a motor vehicle with an intelligent speed assistance device remains exclusively responsible for the operation of the motor vehicle in a safe and lawful manner at all times. (ii) The obligation under this subsection (4) to use an intelligent speed assistance device is not a defense or mitigating circumstance to a violation of rules of the road, as set forth in law. (5) A person aggrieved by the decision of the department on the application for an occupational or temporary restricted driver's license may request a hearing as provided by rule of the department. (6) The director shall cancel an occupational or temporary restricted driver's license after receiving notice that the holder thereof has been convicted of operating a motor vehicle in violation of its restrictions, no longer meets the eligibility requirements, or has been convicted of or found to have committed a separate offense or any other act or omission that under this chapter would warrant suspension or revocation of a regular driver's license. The department must give notice of the cancellation as provided under RCW 46.20.245 . A person whose occupational or temporary restricted driver's license has been canceled under this section may reapply for a new occupational or temporary restricted driver's license if he or she is otherwise qualified under this section and pays the fee required under RCW 46.20.380 .
(1) Any person licensed under this chapter who is convicted of an offense relating to motor vehicles for which suspension or revocation of the driver's license is mandatory, other than vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, may submit to the department an application for a temporary restricted driver's license. The department, upon receipt of the prescribed fee and upon determining that the petitioner is eligible to receive the license, may issue a temporary restricted driver's license and may set definite restrictions as provided in RCW 46.20.394 .
(2)(a) A person licensed under this chapter whose driver's license is suspended administratively due to failure to appear or respond pursuant to RCW 46.20.289 ; a violation of the financial responsibility laws under chapter 46.29 RCW; or for multiple violations within a specified period of time under RCW 46.20.291 , may apply to the department for an occupational driver's license.
(b) An occupational driver's license issued to an applicant described in (a) of this subsection shall be valid for the period of the suspension or revocation.
(3) An applicant for an occupational or temporary restricted driver's license who qualifies under subsection (1) or (2) of this section is eligible to receive such license only if:
(a) Within seven years immediately preceding the date of the offense that gave rise to the present conviction or incident, the applicant has not committed vehicular homicide under RCW 46.61.520 or vehicular assault under RCW 46.61.522 ; and
(b) The applicant demonstrates that it is necessary for him or her to operate a motor vehicle because he or she:
(i) Is engaged in an occupation or trade that makes it essential that he or she operate a motor vehicle;
(ii) Is undergoing continuing health care or providing continuing care to another who is dependent upon the applicant;
(iii) Is enrolled in an educational institution and pursuing a course of study leading to a diploma, degree, or other certification of successful educational completion;
(iv) Is undergoing substance abuse treatment or is participating in meetings of a 12-step group such as Alcoholics Anonymous that requires the petitioner to drive to or from the treatment or meetings;
(v) Is fulfilling court-ordered community service responsibilities;
(vi) Is in a program that assists persons who are enrolled in a WorkFirst program pursuant to chapter 74.08A RCW to become gainfully employed and the program requires a driver's license;
(vii) Is in an apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or welfare-to-work program; or
(viii) Presents evidence that he or she has applied for a position in an apprenticeship or on-the-job training program for which a driver's license is required to begin the program, provided that a license granted under this provision shall be in effect for no longer than 14 days; and
(c) The applicant files satisfactory proof of financial responsibility under chapter 46.29 RCW; and
(d) Upon receipt of evidence that a holder of an occupational driver's license granted under this subsection is no longer enrolled in an apprenticeship or on-the-job training program, the director shall give written notice by first-class mail to the driver that the occupational driver's license shall be canceled. If at any time before the cancellation goes into effect the driver submits evidence of continued enrollment in the program, the cancellation shall be stayed. If the cancellation becomes effective, the driver may obtain, at no additional charge, a new occupational driver's license upon submittal of evidence of enrollment in another program that meets the criteria set forth in this subsection; and
(e) The department shall not issue an occupational driver's license under (b)(iv) of this subsection if the applicant is able to receive transit services sufficient to allow for the applicant's participation in the programs referenced under (b)(iv) of this subsection.
(4)(a)(i) If a person has applied for a temporary restricted driver's license because the person's license has been suspended under RCW 46.61.500 (2), the terms of a license issued under this section must require the person to use a properly functioning intelligent speed assistance device while operating a motor vehicle.
(ii) If a person has applied for an occupational driver's license because the person's license has been suspended administratively as a result of an accumulation of moving violations under RCW 46.20.2892 , and at least one of the violations was for excessive speeding, the terms of an occupational driver's license issued under this section must require the person to use a properly functioning intelligent speed assistance device while operating a motor vehicle.
(b) A person subject to the requirements in (a) of this subsection may not operate a motor vehicle without such a properly functioning device during the duration of the license.
(c)(i) A person who operates a motor vehicle with an intelligent speed assistance device remains exclusively responsible for the operation of the motor vehicle in a safe and lawful manner at all times.
(ii) The obligation under this subsection (4) to use an intelligent speed assistance device is not a defense or mitigating circumstance to a violation of rules of the road, as set forth in law.
(5) A person aggrieved by the decision of the department on the application for an occupational or temporary restricted driver's license may request a hearing as provided by rule of the department.
(6) The director shall cancel an occupational or temporary restricted driver's license after receiving notice that the holder thereof has been convicted of operating a motor vehicle in violation of its restrictions, no longer meets the eligibility requirements, or has been convicted of or found to have committed a separate offense or any other act or omission that under this chapter would warrant suspension or revocation of a regular driver's license. The department must give notice of the cancellation as provided under RCW 46.20.245 . A person whose occupational or temporary restricted driver's license has been canceled under this section may reapply for a new occupational or temporary restricted driver's license if he or she is otherwise qualified under this section and pays the fee required under RCW 46.20.380 .
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.20&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026