New Washington DUI Laws
Drink Driving: Effective January 2011, Washington has amended its DUI laws requiring mandatory reporting if a child under the age of 13 is in a vehicle driven by an intoxicated parent, legal custodian or guardian. If the arresting officer believes the child will be of imminent harm, the officer is authorized to take the child into emergency custody. Additionally, Washington has extended restricted driving privileges with an ignition interlock license to those convicted for a drug-related DUI offense.
Drinking and Driving Laws in Washington State
Drink Driving :The State of Washington prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by a driver that has a .08 percent or higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The .08 percent limit is the standard used across the United States for the “impaired” driver. The State of Washington has lower BAC limits defined for commercial drivers (.04) and drivers under the age of 21 (.02). The Washington State DUI law also prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by a driver that under the influence of a controlled substance such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants and other intoxicants.
How many drinks does it take to reach the legal limit in Washington State? Trying to predict how many drinks it would take you to reach the .08 percent BAC limit with certainty is almost impossible. There are charts and calculators that can help you estimate how many drinks it would take to reach the legal limit, however, these tools do not consider all variables that contribute to a BAC score. It is safe to say that each drink you take brings you that much closer to reaching the .08 BAC limit and becoming legally impaired.
The best answer is not to Drink Driving. The State of Washington State has strict laws for drunk driving, and when you drink and drive in Washington State, you risk your freedom, finances and your future.
The first time you are arrested for Drink Driving in the State of Washington you will serve a minimum of 24 hours in jail or up to 1 year. The court may allow a minimum 15 day home electronic monitoring program in lieu of jail time paid for at the convicted drivers’ expense. You will also be fined no less than $865.50 or up to $5,000. Your drivers’ license will be suspended for a minimum of 90 days and you may receive a restricted license after 30 days if the court allows. You will be ordered to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle at your own expense.
The second time you are arrested for a DUI in Washington State you will serve a minimum of 30 days or up to 1 year in jail and 60 days of electronic home monitoring. You will also be fined a minimum of $1,120.50 or up to $5,000. You will be ordered to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle at your own expense.
The third time you are convicted of drunk driving in the State of Washington you will spend a minimum of 90 days in jail and 150 days of electronic home monitoring at the convicted drivers’ expense. You will also be fined a minimum of $1970.50 or up to $5,000 and your driver’s license will be suspended for 3 years. You will be ordered to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle at your own expense.
