WAC 468-54-065. Hearing officer

The secretary of transportation may designate any suitable person as examiner with respect to hearings on any limited access proposal. Subject to later review and ruling by the secretary, such examiner may: (1) Examine witnesses, and receive evidence; (2) Admit evidence which possesses probative value commonly accepted by reasonable, prudent men in the conduct of their affairs, giving effect to the rules of privilege recognized by law and excluding incompetent, irrelevant, immaterial and unduly repetitious evidence; (3) Rule on offers of proof and receive relevant evidence; (4) Regulate the course of the hearing; (5) Hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues by consent of the parties; (6) Dispose of procedural requests or similar matters; (7) Accept statements as to the reasonableness of the proposal; and (8) Establish time limits for speakers, when necessary to assure that all persons attending will have an opportunity to present relevant and material statements without undue repetition.