(1) When the department of licensing receives a report from a medical review officer, breath alcohol technician, employer, contractor, or consortium that a driver has a verified positive drug test or positive alcohol confirmation test, as part of the testing program conducted under 49 C.F.R. 40, the department shall disqualify the driver from driving a commercial motor vehicle under RCW 46.25.090(7) subject to a hearing as provided in this section. The department shall notify the person in writing of the disqualification by first-class mail. The notice must explain the procedure for the person to request a hearing.

(2) A person disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for having a verified positive drug test or positive alcohol confirmation test may request a hearing to challenge the disqualification within twenty days from the date notice is given. If the request for a hearing is mailed, it must be postmarked within twenty days after the department has given notice of the disqualification.

(3) The hearing must be conducted in the county of the person's residence, except that the department may conduct all or part of the hearing by telephone or other electronic means.

(4) For the purposes of this section, or for the purpose of a hearing de novo in an appeal to superior court, the hearing must be limited to the following issues: (a) Whether the driver is the person who is the subject of the report; (b) whether the motor carrier, employer, or consortium has a program that is subject to the federal requirements under 49 C.F.R. 40; and (c) whether the medical review officer or breath alcohol technician making the report accurately followed the protocols established to verify or confirm the results, or if the driver refused a test, whether the circumstances constitute the refusal of a test under 49 C.F.R. 40. Evidence may be presented to demonstrate that the test results are a false positive. For the purpose of a hearing under this section, a copy of a positive test result with a declaration by the tester or medical review officer or breath alcohol technician stating the accuracy of the laboratory protocols followed to arrive at the test result is prima facie evidence:

(i) Of a verified positive drug test or positive alcohol confirmation test result;

(ii) That the motor carrier, employer, or consortium has a program that is subject to the federal requirements under 49 C.F.R. 40; and

(iii) That the medical review officer or breath alcohol technician making the report accurately followed the protocols for testing established to verify or confirm the results.

After the hearing, the department shall order the disqualification of the person either be rescinded or sustained.

(5) If the person does not request a hearing within the twenty-day time limit, or if the person fails to appear at a hearing, the person has waived the right to a hearing and the department shall sustain the disqualification.

(6) A decision by the department disqualifying a person from driving a commercial motor vehicle is stayed and does not take effect while a formal hearing is pending under this section or during the pendency of a subsequent appeal to superior court so long as there is no conviction for a moving violation or no finding that the person has committed a traffic infraction that is a moving violation and the department receives no further report of a verified positive drug test or positive alcohol confirmation test during the pendency of the hearing and appeal. If the disqualification is sustained after the hearing, the person who is disqualified may file a petition in the superior court of the county of his or her residence to review the final order of disqualification by the department in the manner provided in RCW 46.20.334.

(7) The department of licensing may adopt rules specifying further requirements for requesting and conducting a hearing under this section.

(8) The department of licensing is not civilly liable for damage resulting from disqualifying a driver based on a verified positive drug test or positive alcohol confirmation test result as required by this section or for damage resulting from release of this information that occurs in the normal course of business.

Intent—2005 c 325: See note following RCW 46.25.010.