Washington DUI Resources

This section provides helpful information to our clients, and to the general public, who wish to learn more about Washington State DUI law. Our goal is to help you stay abreast of: the proposed and recent changes to state DUI law; recent rulings that may affect the interpretation of DUI law; and current DUI news.

Department of Licensing Case Law

Department of Licensing case law coming soon…

DUI Case Law

DUI case law coming soon…

DUI Dictionary

Alcohol/Drug Assessment/Evaluation:  an evaluation to determine the degree to which alcohol/drugs are present in your life and if they affect your day-to-day life.

Alcohol Drug Information School:  an eight-hour educational class about alcohol and drugs and their effects.

Bail:  an amount of money determined by the Judge and posted with the clerk as security that you will return to future court hearings.

Bench Warrant:  a warrant issued by the court or the Judge for the arrest of a person.

Charge:  A formal accusation of having a committed a criminal offense.

Complaint:  A formal written charge that a person has committed a criminal offense.

Continuance:  a continuance of proceedings/court hearing in a case from one day to a different date.

DataMaster:  The Breathalyzer machine currently used by the State of Washington, to determine your breath alcohol content.

Deferred Prosecution:  Entering a 5 year program with the Court where you state, under oath, that your charge (i.e. DUI) was the result of or caused by alcoholism, drug additions, or mental health issues for which treatment is needed and unless treatment is entered, the probability of future recurrence is great.  Additionally, for alcoholism/drug addiction, you must enter a two year deferred prosecution Intensive Outpatient treatment program. Treatment wise: it is eight weeks of group and individual therapy equaling to 72 hours of treatment.

Department of Licensing Administrative Hearing:  an administrative hearing that you must request within 20 of the date of your citation that will allow you to give arguments to dismiss your pending license suspension.

Department of Licensing Administrative License Suspension:  where the DOL suspends your license, based on your DUI, for a period of time.  You have 20 days from the date of your citation to request a hearing to provide argument against this license suspension.

Department of Licensing Administrative License Suspension based on Conviction:  where the DOL will suspend your license, based on your court conviction (example: DUI or Reckless Driving Conviction), for a period of time.

District Court:  A court of limited jurisdiction confined to a specific county.

Field Sobriety Tests:  A battery of tests the law enforcement officer will request you complete, usually on scene of pullover, to determine whether you are under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Concurrent Sentence:  two or more sentences that run at the same time.

Conditions of Release: Conditions the Judge imposes upon you/orders you to abide by during your case.  Any noncompliance may result in the issuance of a warrant for your arrest or forfeiture of bail posted.

Consecutive Sentence: two or more sentences that run one after the other.

Deferred Sentence:  Where the court, based on certain terms and conditions, has withheld the execution of a sentence where at the end of the sentence the case may be dismissed.

Discovery:  documents and material related to the criminal case involved.

Dismissal with Prejudice:  dismissal of a case by a Judge that bars the prosecuting attorney from raising the issue of the case again.

Dismissal without Prejudice:  dismissal of a case by a Judge where the prosecutor is allowed to raise the issue of the charge again.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI):  driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs.

Evidence:  any form of proof legally presented at trial through witnesses, records, and documents.

Gross Misdemeanor:  any crime punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars and/or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year.

Ignition Interlock Device: A breathalyzer device that is installed in your vehicle and monitors you breath alcohol content.

Ignition Interlock License:  A temporary license that allows you to drive during a license suspension.  You must have SR22 High Risk insurance and an Ignition Interlock Device installed

Municipal Court:  A court of limited jurisdiction confined to a city or local community.

Negligence:  the absence of ordinary care.

Physical Control:  being in actual physical control of a vehicle (including just sitting in the driver’s seat) while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.

Plea: a criminal defendant’s official statement of “guilty” or “not guilty” to the charge.

Portable Breathalyzer Test (PBT): A portable handheld breathalyzer test the law enforcement officer will request that you blow into, usually on scene by your vehicle, to determine your breath alcohol content and whether you are under the influence of alcohol.

Suspended Sentence: the court, based on terms and conditions has withheld execution of the sentence.

Speedy Trial:  the right of the defendant to be tried promptly.  There is a specific and complicated court rule that governs this.

Speedy Trial Waiver:  a document signed by the defendant and defense attorney, waiving the defendant’s right to Speedy Trial/ the defendant’s right to have a trial within 60 days of arraignment (if incarcerated) or within 90 days of arraignment (if not incarcerated).

SR22 High Risk Insurance:  an insurance certificate in addition to your normal insurance coverage.

Stay: the halting of a judicial proceeding by order of the court.

Stipulation:  an agreement by the prosecutor and defense regarding any matter in the trial proceedings.

Summons:  a document requiring you to appear in court on a certain day.

Victim’s Impact Panel: a presentation including personal stories by victim’s of DUI who have been seriously injured or had family members/friends killed or harmed by those driving under the influence.