Like the seasons, new DUI laws come every year allowing legislators to stand and say that they were tough on drunk drivers. This year HB 1789 claims to take steps to increase sentencing laws for DWI offenses. Under this new bill, if the offender has prior felony DUI convictions, any subsequent DUI offense will be considered a felony.
A first time DUI in Washington is a gross misdemeanor. If a person has three or more prior DUI convictions (or convictions for certain related offenses) within a ten-year period, a fourth DUI will be considered a felony.
Under the new bill, if you have been convicted of a felony DUI, any subsequent DUI conviction is automatically considered a felony. This changes the ten-year time frame as it currently stands. King County deputy prosecutor Amy Freedheim says under the new bill, “once you are a felony DUI you are always a felony DUI.” (Quoted from the Tacoma News Tribune)
The new bill also expands what is considered to a prior offense to include vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, if the prior offense was involving driving under the influence. In addition, the bill requires that a sentence enhancement for a charge of a DUI vehicular homicide be served in full.