The much anticipated overhaul of Washington DUI laws may come to fruition after much delay and rhetoric. However, the version of the bill that may become law is very watered down from the original proposal that made headlines earlier this year, reports the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

State lawmakers reportedly advanced a plan this week that would call for the closer monitoring of repeat DUI offenders. But some of the more controversial language in the bill such as the increased minimum jail times is reportedly missing from the bill.

The revised bill calls for the mandatory booking in jail for individuals charged with more than one DUI. These drivers would also be forced to install an ignition interlock device within five days of being charged. In addition, the lawmakers said they would start a pilot program to monitor daily alcohol use for repeat DUI offenders.

One dramatic change to Washington DUI laws include the employer exception to the ignition interlock device requirement.  Drivers who are convicted of DUI will have a certain waiting period before they are eligible to driver an employer vehicle without a device.  This change was likely put in the bill for the state to be in compliance with federal guidelines- and to ensure federal money.

While the revised bill would add some costs to the state, the costs would be far less than the increase in jail time and other proposals called for in the original bill. These costs were a major hangup in the passage of the prior versions of the bill. The revised bill was approved by the state senate in a 46-0 margin.

If this bill becomes law, individuals charged with drunk driving will need to become aware of the new requirements. This is especially true if the individual has a history of drunk driving.

At Wolff Criminal Defense, we have stayed on top of all the proposals and changes affecting Washington State DUI laws. If you have any questions about these changes and how they affect you, contact us at 425-284-2000 to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.

The process to defend a DUI charge can be difficult, and you will not want to fight your case alone.