(1) A person
applying for a driver's license or instruction permit shall be required to take
a vision test administered by the department.
(a) Any person with visual acuity worse than
20/40 Snellen with both eyes combined either corrected or uncorrected, or with
some apparent significant visual limitation, must have an eye examination by a
competent vision authority.
(b) If
an applicant's vision cannot be corrected so it will be 20/40 Snellen for
visual acuity and if the applicant's vision is between 20/50 Snellen and 20/100
Snellen, or if an applicant's other vision problems cannot be corrected, he or
she must submit to a reexamination.
(c) An applicant whose vision cannot be
corrected to at least 20/100 Snellen range will be deemed to have failed the
portion of the driver's license examination specified by
RCW
46.20.130(1)(a) pertaining
to eyesight and ability to see, and will be deemed to have failed to
demonstrate that he or she is qualified to drive.
(d) An applicant whose vision cannot be
corrected to at least 20/70 Snellen range will be deemed to have failed to
demonstrate that he or she is qualified to drive at night.
(2) The department may waive the requirement
for a vision test for any person applying to renew his or her driver's license
by mail or electronic commerce if the person certifies on the application that
his or her vision acuity is no less than 20/40 Snellen for visual acuity,
either corrected or uncorrected, and that there are no other vision
problems.
(3) The department shall
refer for reexamination any person who uses bioptic or telescopic lenses to
meet licensing standards for the issuance of any driver's license or
instruction permit.
