Washington drunk driving penalties can also be very severe like the dui punishments applicable in other states. Driving while impaired or while under the influence of alcohol is a serious criminal offence in the state of Washington. The state authorities have enacted zero tolerance laws regarding these types of cases. Implied consent laws also applies in this state, as per which, even refusal to take the BAC test is also a criminal offence. Following is a brief rundown on what kind of punishments and consequences you can expect on dui conviction.
First Dui Conviction In Washington
The first conviction in a dui case imposes the following Washington drunk driving penalties.
- Though not mandatory, it is very much likely that you will be asked to complete a drug/ alcohol education program
- If the BAC level is 0.15 or above, driving license will be suspended for one year.
- If the BAC level is less than 0.15, you will face the suspension of the driving license for a period of ninety days.
- If BAC level exceeds 0.15, up to $5000 of monetary fine, out of which, minimum $1120 is mandatory
- If BAC is less than 0.15, the minimum mandatory fine is $865; the maximum ceiling remains the same.
- If BAC is 0.15 or above, you will face thirty days of home confinement with electronic monitoring OR you will be sent to jail for two days to twelve months.
- If BAC is less than 0.15, fifteen days of home confinement with electronic monitoring OR one day to one year in jail
Second Dui Conviction In Washington
The following Washington drunk driving penalties are awarded when you get convicted for the second time.
- Though not mandatory, you are likely to be asked to attend a specific drug or alcohol education program as per court order
- Nine hundred days of license suspension if BAC is 0.15 or above
- Two years of license revocation if BAC is less than 0.15
- You will have to meet some basic requirements to qualify for license reinstatement, such as installing ignition interlock device and obtaining SR22 insuarnce coverage.
- Maximum monetary fine is $5000
- Minimum mandatory monetary fine is $1545 if BAC exceeds 0.15
- At least $1120 of fine if BAC is less than 0.15
- If BAC is 0.15 or above, ninety days of mandatory home confinement with electronic monitoring OR forty-five days to twelve months in jail
- If BAC is less than 0.15, the jail imprisonment period can be anywhere between thirty days to one year.
Third Dui Conviction In Washington
The third conviction attracts the following Washington drunk driving penalties.
- Completing a drug or alcohol education program (not mandatory)
- License gets suspended for four years if BAC is 0.15 or above
- If BAC is less than 0.15, license suspension occurs for a period of three years
- If BAC level is 0.15 or above, minimum mandatory monetary fine is $2820.50; the maximum is $5000
- If BAC is less than 0.15, the minimum monetary fine is $1970; the maximum limit remains the same
- Jail imprisonment period can range from four months to twelve months if BAC level is 0.15 or higher; the jail term can be substituted with five months of home confinement (electronic monitoring)
- IF BAC is below 0.15, you will be awarded with either four months of home confinement (electronic monitoring) OR 3-12 months in jail.
Penalties For Refusal To Take The Field Sobriety Test
The following Washington drunk driving penalties are applicable if you refuse to take the chemical test to determine BAC level at the time of dui stop.
- If it is a first time offence within the previous seven years, license will be revoked for twelve months
- For a second time refusal within seven years of the previous offence, license will be suspended for two years
- A court hearing takes place within sixty days of the arrest
- You will have to pay a hearing fee of $100
- If the court offers you an option for restricted license, you will have to pay a reissue fee of $150.
- License reinstatement is also subject to SR22 insurance coverage; you will be required to have this insurance coverage for the next three years. Failing to meet this requirement will again result in license suspension.
Since the court takes an extensive array of different factors into consideration before giving a judgment in a dui case, it is always better to consult a qualified and experienced Washington dui attorney to get exact evaluation on what kind of Washington drunk driving penalties you might have to face considering the specific dui charges against you.