Washington DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in Washington is 0.08% per se
(effective from Jan 1st 1999)

(If you’ve been charged with Washington DUI, the law allows 20 days for your Washington DUI Lawyer to make a request for a Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) administrative hearing to save your driving license)

Washington DUI Laws and BAC limits

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of Washington it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.04% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Washington and implied consent laws are enforced.

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for DUI - Drunk Driving in Washington

Washington is a state with a seven-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after seven years. If it is seven years and one day since a driver was convicted of DUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a DUI within seven years of the first DUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

First Dui - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a first DUI - drunk driving conviction in Washington:

• $350 to $5,000 fine
• 1 day to 1 year in jail
• possible home electronic monitoring in lieu of jail time
• minimum 90 days drivers license suspension (possible restricted license after 30 days)
• ignition interlock restriction for 1 year
• alcohol evaluation and treatment as determined by the court
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a second DUI - drunk driving conviction in Washington:

• $500 to $5,000 fine
• 30 days to 1 year in jail (and 60 days of electronic home monitoring)
• 2 years drivers license suspension
• ignition interlock restriction for 5 years
• alcohol evaluation and treatment as determined by the court
• SR22 insurance requirement

Third DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - Misdemeanor

The penalty for a third DUI - drunk driving conviction in Washington:

• $1,000 to $5,000 fine
• 90 days to 1 year in jail (and 120 days of electronic home monitoring)
• 3 years drivers license suspension
• ignition interlock restriction for 10 years
• alcohol evaluation and treatment as determined by the court
• SR22 insurance requirement

A fourth of subsequent DUI in a period of seven years is considered a felony.

Implied consent LAWS

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Washington and implied consent laws are enforced.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Washington

In Washington, if the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine, their drivers license will be suspended/revoked.

FIRST CHEMICAL TEST REFUSAL

• 1 year drivers license suspension
• SR22 insurance requirement

SECOND and subsequent Chemical test REFUSAL

• 2 years drivers license suspension
• SR22 insurance requirement

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Washington SR22 insurance (High Risk DUI SR22 Insurance)

Washington auto insurance quotes ENTER ZIP CODE:

Washington SR-22 auto insurance is required for a period of 3 years after a DUI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider.  Some insurance companies will not even do an SR22 insurance filing. Get a FREE SR22 DUI auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for Washington auto insurance in a matter of minutes.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of Washington

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of Washington for private passenger vehicles is (25/50/10). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $50,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE DUI / DWI Case evaluation & by local Washington Lawyer

OR

Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer Washington DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your Washington drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local Washington Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in Washington? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in Washington? • Does Washington have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with Washington laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in Washington? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local Washington criminal defense attorney specialising in Washington drunk driving laws today.

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Disclaimer: While every effort is made to keep all information up to date, the Washington drunk driving laws change frequently and the information provided should not be construed as legal advice. Drinkdriving.org shall not be held responsible for any actions a person may take as a result of information gathered from this web site. Consultation with a local Washington DUI lawyer is recommended in all cases.

Useful Washington DUI Links:

DUI - Drunk Driving Laws in Washington

Washington Drivers Manual

Washington SR22 Insurance Requirement

Washington Department of licensing (DOL)

Washington Department of Transportation

Washington State Courts

Washington Department of Insurance

Washington DUI Lawyers

Washington DUI discussion forum

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