Revocation of habitual offender's license — Request for hearing, scope — Right to appeal. (Effective October 1, 2025.)
RCW 46.65.065
in effect(1) Whenever a person's driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020 , the department shall forthwith notify the person of the revocation in writing at his or her address of record as maintained by the department. If the person is a nonresident of this state, notice shall be sent to the person's last known address. Notices of revocation shall inform the recipient thereof of his or her right to a formal hearing and specify the steps which must be taken in order to obtain a hearing. Within 15 days after the notice has been given, the person may, in writing, request a formal hearing. If such a request is not made within the prescribed time the right to a hearing is waived. A request for a hearing stays the effectiveness of the revocation. (2) Upon receipt of a request for a hearing, the department shall schedule a hearing, including a remote hearing, and shall give at least 10 days' notice of the hearing to the person. (3) The scope of the hearings provided by this section is limited to the issues of whether the certified transcripts or abstracts of the convictions, as maintained by the department, show that the requisite number of violations have been accumulated within the prescribed period of time as set forth in RCW 46.65.020 and whether the terms and conditions for granting stays, as provided in RCW 46.65.060 , have been met. (4) Upon receipt of the hearing officer's decision, an aggrieved party may appeal to the superior court of the county in which he or she resides, or, in the case of a nonresident of this state, in the superior court of Thurston county, for review of the revocation. Notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after receipt of the hearing officer's decision or the right to appeal is waived. Review by the court shall be de novo and without a jury. (5) The filing of a notice of appeal does not stay the effective date of the revocation.
(1) Whenever a person's driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020 , the department shall forthwith notify the person of the revocation in writing at his or her address of record as maintained by the department. If the person is a nonresident of this state, notice shall be sent to the person's last known address. Notices of revocation shall inform the recipient thereof of his or her right to a formal hearing and specify the steps which must be taken in order to obtain a hearing. Within 15 days after the notice has been given, the person may, in writing, request a formal hearing. If such a request is not made within the prescribed time the right to a hearing is waived. A request for a hearing stays the effectiveness of the revocation.
(2) Upon receipt of a request for a hearing, the department shall schedule a hearing, including a remote hearing, and shall give at least 10 days' notice of the hearing to the person.
(3) The scope of the hearings provided by this section is limited to the issues of whether the certified transcripts or abstracts of the convictions, as maintained by the department, show that the requisite number of violations have been accumulated within the prescribed period of time as set forth in RCW 46.65.020 and whether the terms and conditions for granting stays, as provided in RCW 46.65.060 , have been met.
(4) Upon receipt of the hearing officer's decision, an aggrieved party may appeal to the superior court of the county in which he or she resides, or, in the case of a nonresident of this state, in the superior court of Thurston county, for review of the revocation. Notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after receipt of the hearing officer's decision or the right to appeal is waived. Review by the court shall be de novo and without a jury.
(5) The filing of a notice of appeal does not stay the effective date of the revocation.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.65&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026