The bill that would revamp Washington DUI laws is finally before the Governor, reports The Associated Press.
A new watered down version of the bill was first passed by the state Senate on Wednesday before making it through on an unanimous vote in the state House of Representatives. The final step now is for Governor Jay Inslee to approve the bill for it to become law.
The DUI bill follows several high-profile incidents of deadly drunk driving accidents. The bill targets repeat DUI offenders and those portions of the bill focusing on these offenders have made it through. For example, repeat DUI offenders will have to install an ignition interlock device within five days after being charged with a crime and the state also plans to begin a pilot program to monitor these repeat offenders.
However, other parts of the bill such as increased minimum jail terms were removed from the proposed law. This is due primarily to budgetary concerns as putting more people behind bars would strain the penal system and the state's budget.
After months of speculation and seemingly endless debate, Washington's new DUI laws look to be finally ready to go into effect.
At Wolff Criminal Defense, our attorneys have stayed on top of new developments in state drunk driving law. When the new law is signed (as it looks likely), we will detail the salient provisions and provide an overview of how they affect you.
We are experienced DUI defense attorneys and will work with you to ensure your rights are represented in the changing landscape of Washington DUI laws. Contact us at 425-284-2000 if you have any questions about a drunk driving case in the Seattle or King County areas.
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