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FeedsFarm.com > It seems that discrimination is the official policy at the WA Dept. of Licensing

It seems that discrimination is the official policy at the WA Dept. of Licensing

14th Nov 2006, 11:09 GMT

So recently the time came to renew my driver's license. Happens for everyone, and there is only so much a person can do with extensions and such unless one is out of state for extended periods.... Anyway, I wanted to take care of it before heading out on my trip to Washington, D.C. (a few hours from when I am writing this post, in fact). Did you know that in the state of Washington, you are required to pass the driving test every time you renew? I sure didn't, and most of the people I talked to not only didn't know this, but they didn't believe me either. It's true, though. "But Michael," you may be saying, "the last time I had my license renewed, I did not have to take either the written test or the driving test. Is this a new law?" No, it's not a new law. What was helping you out here was the fact that although the testing is required, the Department of Licensing is allowed to waive the examination requirement! Let's go to the Revised Code of Washington, specifically R.C.W. 46.20.120 (Examinations - Waiver - Renewal - Fees) -- the relevant piece highlighted below: (1) Waiver. The department may waive: (a) All or any part of the examination of any person applying for the renewal of a driver's license unless the department determines that the applicant is not qualified to hold a driver's license under this title; or (b) All or any part of the examination involving operating a motor vehicle if the applicant: (i) Surrenders a valid driver's license issued by the person's previous home state; or (ii) Provides for verification a valid driver's license issued by a foreign driver licensing jurisdiction with which the department has an informal agreement under R.C.W. 46.20.125; and (iii) Is otherwise qualified to be licensed. In other words, they have to do the examination every time, it is a requirement, unless they choose to waive it. I got to see firsthand what some of the criteria are for not giving such a waiver. You'll love it.... The number machine was broken at the DOL I was at, so everyone had to stand in a single file line, and no one could sit in the large section usually reserved for people to wait around for their number to come up. While I had started to walk in with just my cane, I realized that standing for that long would not work, so I went to get my scooter. It seems that simply having a scooter and using it when the DOL is "broken" is grounds for refusing to waive the examination. I tried to explain that it was due to the problem in the DOL office itself, and mentioned how I had a cane when I last took the test. The woman at the DOL said that even having the cane is grounds for requiring the examination. The fact that it is a pre-existing condition is immaterial to the decision here. In other words, I am required to take the driving portion of the examination, in all likelihood for as long as I am driving, because I have visible symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Now R.C.W. 46.20.041 (Persons with physical or mental disabilities or diseases) is also relevant here. And I understand that driving is a privilege, not a right. They have the authority under law and under departmental policy and even under DOL employee whim to do whatever they want here. But if they were doing it because I was black, or gay, or Catholic, or female, or any number of other protected classes, it would be illegal. Somehow, even if the disease does not affect my ability to drive, my disability is apparently legal grounds for discrimination. In case you are curious what I plan to do, I will just take the test again when I get back in town. And I am not going to sue or anything like that. Because I'd probably lose, and even if I won then the likely change in DOL procedures would be to just force more people to re-test, rather than granting more waivers. And I would become a very unpopular person in the state among people who think of that parallel parking test as one of the most stressful parts of their lives. But dammit, it is still just WRONG. Profiling a person with a handicap so that one can discriminate against that person is WRONG. Driving may be a privilege; but let me tell you, getting my respect is a privilege too. And every single employee of the DOL who practices, encourages, or abides by such practices has just lost it. That "L" in DOL is also my finger and thumb in the shape of an 'L" on their foreheads.... This post brought to you by L (U+004c, a.k.a. LATIN CAPITAL LETTER L)

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