DUI charges in Washington are very serious. If you have been charged with a DUI you could be facing extremely severe penalties including loss of your driver’s license, fines and jail time. DUI’s may also affect your insurance rates and your ability to find employment.
People who act early get the best results. Speaking with an attorney at the earliest stages of a proceeding is extremely important because it ensures that you do not make poor legal decisions with potentially devastating and lasting consequences.
At Fields Law Office, we work hard to see each case from our client’s perspective. We take pride in giving responsive, individualized and professional representation. We take the time to learn how the outcome will impact our clients’ lives and use every resource to minimize the damage to their lives and promote a positive outcome.
In the State of Washington, a DUI is ranked as a Gross Misdemeanor. The maximum penalty for a DUI is a $5000 fine and up to 364 days in the county jail. The Washington Department of Licensing may also suspend your driver’s license, require an ignition interlock device (Blow-n-Go), require probation, an alcohol evaluation and more.
The penalty an individual may face for a DUI charge depends on a number of factors: a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC), the person’s history and the circumstances of the arrest.
Consequences of DUI Arrest: Two-Pronged
A DUI arrest will start a two-pronged process of state action: (1) the criminal courts and the prosecuting attorney may initiate Criminal Proceedings against you and (2) the Department of Licensing (DOL) will begin Administrative Proceedings.
- Criminal Proceedings – Going to Court DUI’s have criminal penalty consequences in Washington. A DUI conviction may result in confinement in the county jail, being required to wear an “ankle bracelet” while on electronic home monitoring, mandatory installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in your vehicle, alcohol/drug monitoring, fines, fees, probation or court supervision and other penalties.
• Washington DUI Sentencing Grid
• Washington State Alcohol and Drug Violators Penalty Schedule
Other Related Charges
Some of these charges are often considered “lesser included offenses” of a DUI.
- Administrative (DOL) ProceedingsThe Washington Department of Licensing WA-DOL will be notified if you are arrested for a DUI. Theses administrative proceedings may result in losing your driving privileges. Your license may be suspended or revoked. If you need to keep driving you may be eligible for an Ignition Interlock License.
- IID Requirements
- IID Application
- WA-DOL Penalty Grid
- RCW 46.29.460 – High Risk Insurance
- Find High Risk Insurance Providers in Mount Vernon, WA
An Ignition Interlock Driver License (IIL) allows you to drive a vehicle while your license is suspended or revoked for a drug or alcohol–related offense.
Click here to learn how to apply
You must pay the DOL a $100 fee for the application, as well as a monthly fee of $20 to help defray the cost for indigent citizens. You will also need to have an ignition interlock on any vehicle you drive and SR 22 insurance before you can apply.
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