Drinking and Driving Laws in Washington State
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 in under the influence of a controlled substance such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants and other intoxicants.
2008 Changes in the Washington State DUI Law
On 03/31/08 the Governor signed DUI Law Changes into effect, the following is a summary of those changes. Concerns accountability for persons driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, relates to limited use licenses, license suspension and requiring that a person found guilty of certain DUI offenses have a functioning ignition interlock device installed on all motor vehicles operated by the person. To Read the Bill Please CLICK HERE
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 and drive . 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.
Drunk Driving Laws in Washington State
State of Washington State BAC Laws:
All drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher.
Under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher.
Commercial Vehicle Driver with a BAC of .04 or higher.
Washington State Drunk Driving Fines & Penalties
First Drunk Driving Conviction
The first time you are arrested for drunk 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 $350 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 may be ordered to install a ignition interlock device on your vehicle at your own expense.
Second Drunk Driving Conviction
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 $500 or up to $5,000. If your second drunk driving conviction was within 7 years of the previous conviction your drivers license will be revoked for a period of 2 years. You may be ordered to install a ignition interlock device on your vehicle at your own expense.
Third Drunk Driving Conviction
The 3rd time you are convicted of drunk driving in the State of Washington you will spend a minimum of 90 days in jail or up to 1 1/2 years of electronic home monitoring at the convicted drivers expense. You will also be fined a minimum of $1,000 or up to $5,000 and your drivers license will be suspended for 3 years. You may be ordered to install a ignition interlock device on your vehicle at your own expense.
The Implied Consent Law in Washington State
The implied consent law in the State of Washington means that when you operate a motor vehicle in the State of Washington you agree to submit to a chemical test of your blood breath or urine if an officer of the law suspects that you are driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance. If you refuse to submit to such a test you will have your drivers license suspended for a minimum of 1 year for the first refusal. Subsequent refusals carry penalties and fines similar or greater than a DUI conviction.
More on Drunk Driving Laws, Penalties and Fines in Washington State
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