Impaired Driving Offenses. A person may be convicted of impaired driving under either the driving under the influence (DUI) statute or the actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence (PC) statute. A person is guilty of DUI if the person drives while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug, and is guilty of PC if the person has actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, marijuana, or any drug.
A person who drives a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug and causes the death of another person is guilty of vehicular homicide-DUI, a felony. A person who causes substantial bodily harm to another person as a result of driving under the influence is guilty of vehicular assault-DUI, also a felony.
Penalties for Driving Under the Influence and Actual Physical Control of a Vehicle While Under the Influence Offenses. A DUI or PC offense is punishable as a gross misdemeanor up to the third offense if the person has two or fewer prior impaired driving offenses within the previous seven years. However, a fourth or subsequent DUI or PC offense becomes a felony offense if the defendant has three or more prior impaired driving offenses within the previous ten years, or has previously been convicted of felony DUI or PC, or of vehicular homicide or vehicular assault while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.
Driver's License Suspension. Upon conviction of a DUI or PC offense, the Department of Licensing (DOL) must suspend or deny the privilege to drive for between 90 days and four years, depending on the person's blood alcohol content at the time of the offense and the number of prior offenses. After suspension, the person must meet certain criteria and pay a license reissue fee to reinstate the license.
Serious Traffic Offense. A serious traffic offense includes nonfelony DUI, nonfelony PC, reckless driving, hit-and-run, or similar nonstate offenses that would be classified as a serious traffic offense. Serious traffic offenses are not included in a person's offender score if the person has not been convicted of another crime within five years. When scored, a serious traffic offense counts as one point for each conviction.
Negligent driving in the first degree includes operation of a motor vehicle negligently and that endangers any person or property. The person must exhibit the effects of consuming liquor or drugs. Negligent driving is a misdemeanor. Reckless endangerment is conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person. It is a gross misdemeanor.
Ignition Interlock Requirements. A person may apply to DOL for an ignition interlock driver's license when the person has been convicted of DUI or PC, vehicular homicide while under the influence, or vehicular assault while under the influence. This includes convictions for charges originally filed as the prior offenses, or equivalent non-Washington convictions.
A person may only drive a vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device in certain circumstances, including:
In impaired driving cases, the court must immediately notify DOL when an ignition interlock restriction is imposed as a condition of release or after conviction and the offense involves alcohol.
When the ignition interlock restriction follows a conviction for an impaired driving offense, the period of restriction lasts one year, five years, or ten years, depending on the number of prior offenses, and begins after any period of driver's license suspension. A person who is unable to operate an ignition interlock device due to a physical disability may apply to toll the restriction period. DOL will not remove a restriction associated with a deferred prosecution or conviction until it receives a declaration from the ignition interlock vendor certifying that 180 days prior to removal have been free of certain incidents, such as failed start attempts or required maintenance.
Ignition interlock devices are not required on an employer's vehicles that are driven by the convicted person when driving the vehicles is a requirement of employment during working hours. The employer exemption is not available if the employer's vehicle is assigned exclusively to the convicted person and is used solely for commuting to and from employment.
Deferred Prosecution. A person charged with a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor in district or municipal court may petition the court for a deferred prosecution, subject to certain conditions. For example, a petitioner is not eligible for more than one deferred prosecution for gross misdemeanor DUI or PC charges.
To qualify for a deferred prosecution, the petitioner must allege that a substance use disorder, mental health problem, or domestic violence behavior problem caused the petitioner to commit the charged offense and that treatment is necessary to prevent reoccurrence. An approved treatment provider, health center, or government agency must prepare a case history and risk assessment. The entity preparing the case history and risk assessment is based on the petitioner's underlying problem.
Requirements for Deferred Prosecution. The court may refer the petitioner for a diagnostic investigation and evaluation to determine whether:
The entity conducting the evaluation must make a written report to the court stating its findings and recommendations. If the entity supports treatment, it must also recommend a treatment plan containing the type, nature, length, schedule, and cost of treatment. If the court approves the treatment plan and the petitioner agrees to comply with its terms and conditions, the court must accept the petitioner's request for a deferred prosecution.
A deferred prosecution based on alcoholism must be for a two-year period and requires:
As a condition of granting a deferred prosecution, the court may appoint a probation department or other appropriate person or agency to supervise the petitioner. The supervisor must:
The court will dismiss the charges pending against the petitioner three years after completion of the treatment plan, after proof is provided to the court that the petitioner successfully completed the two-year treatment plan. If a petitioner is convicted of a similar offense prior to successful completion of the deferred prosecution, the deferred prosecution will be rescinded and the court will enter judgment. If the petitioner violates the deferred prosecution requirements, the court may terminate the deferred prosecution.
Probationary License. Upon receiving notice of a deferred prosecution or conviction for an impaired driving offense, DOL must order the petitioner to surrender their driver's license. The license is placed in probationary status for five years. Upon reinstatement of the driving privilege after a period of suspension, the petitioner must obtain a probationary license to operate a motor vehicle. If a person is accepted for deferred prosecution, the court will enter that information on the person's court docket. After entry, DOL will order the person to surrender any non-probationary license, and must issue the person a probationary license. The person's license will be on probationary status for five years from the date of the violation.
Felony Offender Scores. For most felony offenses, the Sentencing Reform Act provides a determinate sentencing system in which sentencing courts generally impose sentences within a standard range. The standard range for a person is determined by reference to a grid, which provides a base sentence according to the person's offender score and the seriousness level of the present offense. The offender score is a point total based on the person's prior dispositions and convictions. A felony DUI or PC conviction is included in the offender score.
Sentencing Alternatives. When a person is convicted of a felony offense, a sentencing court is generally required to impose a term of confinement based on a standard range provided by statute. In some circumstances, sentencing courts have discretion to order sentencing alternatives. Sentencing alternatives generally result in a person serving a shorter term of confinement, and sometimes serving no term of confinement. Instead, the person may be required to participate in certain programs or treatment, or to submit to a form of partial confinement.
Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative. The drug offender sentencing alternative (DOSA) either reduces or eliminates incarceration time in exchange for the offender participating in supervision and treatment. A person convicted of a felony is eligible for a DOSA if certain criteria are met, including:
When determining eligibility, the court may order the Department of Corrections (DOC) to complete either a risk assessment report or a substance abuse disorder, or both. If the court determines the offender is eligible for the alternative, it must waive imposition of the standard-range sentence and impose a sentence consisting of either a prison-based alternative or a residential substance use disorder treatment-based alternative.
Under the prison-based alternative, the offender is sentenced to a term of incarceration equal to one-half the midpoint of the standard range or 12 months, whichever is greater, and one-half the midpoint of the standard range as a term of community custody. The incarceration and community custody terms must include substance abuse treatment.
Under the residential substance use disorder treatment-based alternative, the offender is sentenced to a term of community custody equal to one-half the midpoint of the standard sentence range or two years, whichever is greater, conditioned on the offender entering and remaining in residential substance use disorder treatment for a period set by the court between three and six months. The term of community custody must also include a condition to participate in treatment.
The court may bring an offender serving a DOSA back to court at any time to monitor progress or determine whether there have been violations of the conditions of sentence. If the offender has violated the conditions or has not satisfactorily progressed in treatment, the court may modify the conditions of community custody or impose other sanctions, including ordering the person to serve a term of total confinement within the standard range for the offense.
Partial Confinement. For certain offenders, a term of total confinement may be converted to partial confinement. Partial confinement is confinement up to one year in a facility operated or contracted by the state or other unit of government, or in an approved residence, for a substantial portion of each day with the balance of the day spent in the community.
Home detention is a program of partial confinement in which the offender is confined in a private residence 24 hours a day, unless otherwise authorized by the court or other supervising agency, and is subject to electronic monitoring.
Work release is a program of partial confinement available to offenders who are employed or engaged as a student in a regular course of study at school.
During the period of partial confinement, an offender may be required to comply with crime-related prohibitions and affirmative conditions imposed by the court or DOC. If the offender violates the rules of the partial confinement program, the offender may be required to serve the remainder of the term in total confinement.
Community Custody. Community custody is a portion of an offender's sentence served in the community, subject to conditions imposed by the court and DOC. Courts must order community custody for offenders convicted of certain crimes or in accordance with a sentencing alternative. If an offender violates the conditions of community custody, they may be subject to confinement or nonconfinement-based sanctions.
Impaired Driving. The 10-year look back period for a person with three or more prior DUI or PC offenses is changed to a 15-year look-back, increasing the penalty from a gross misdemeanor to a felony offense for any person who has three or more prior DUI or PC offenses within that time.
Serious Traffic Offense. The definition of a serious traffic offense is amended to include first degree negligent driving and reckless endangerment in the situations where the conviction is the result of a driving under the influence (DUI) or actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence (PC) charge, or a vehicular homicide or vehicular assault charge while under the influence.
Ignition Interlock Licensing and Restrictions. License Applications and Suspensions. After the court accepts a deferred prosecution, DOL is required to notify the person that an application for a probationary license is required within 45 days. A person whose license has been suspended, revoked, or denied for violation of a mandatory condition of probation may apply to DOL for an ignition interlock driver's license.
If a person violates certain reporting requirements, the court is given discretion not to impose a license suspension if the person proves the violation was cured within 30 days. These include failure to furnish proof of progress in a required alcoholism or drug treatment program, furnish proof of financial responsibility, respond to a traffic infraction notice or hearing, reinstate a suspended or revoked license, or comply with a child support order.
Waiver and Tolling. When a court grants a deferred prosecution, the time period for the ignition interlock device is calculated based on entry of the deferred prosecution and revocation as a single restriction. Drivers who received restriction start dates before June 9, 2016, may apply to DOL to waive the restriction if they are unable to operate an ignition interlock device due to a physical disability.
Self-Employed Exemption. A person charged with failing to comply with the ignition interlock device requirement may assert an affirmative defense that the person is self-employed and qualifies for the employer exemption. The employer exemption does not apply unless the vehicle is used exclusively for the person's employment.
Eligibility for Deferred Prosecution. A person who participates in a deferred prosecution for a first-time gross misdemeanor DUI or PC charge may petition the court for a second deferred prosecution for a subsequent charge. A second deferred prosecution is only available for the person's next violation when the person has no other prior convictions defined as prior offenses. A first deferred prosecution is not considered a prior offense for the purpose of granting a second deferred prosecution. A person who did not participate in a deferred prosecution for a first-time gross misdemeanor DUI or PC charge is only eligible to petition the court for one deferred prosecution.
A person may petition the court for a second deferred prosecution while still under the jurisdiction of the court for a first deferred prosecution; however, the court must revoke the first deferred prosecution. A person may not participate in two deferred prosecutions at the same time unless the separate offenses were committed within seven days of each other and the person petitions to consolidate the offenses into a single deferred prosecution.
A petition for deferred prosecution must include a case history and risk assessment. The entity preparing the case history and risk assessment is based on the petitioner's underlying problem. A substance use disorder or mental health co-occurring disorder requires assessment by a state-approved behavioral health agency. Domestic violence requires a state-certified domestic violence treatment provider. Criminal mistreatment crimes require the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
Proof that a petitioner has completed a domestic violence treatment plan will not result in the dismissal of charges against the petitioner until five years has passed following the entry of the order of deferred prosecution.
Requirements for Deferred Prosecution. A program or department performing a diagnostic investigation and evaluation must determine whether the petitioner is either:
A deferred prosecution based on either a substance use disorder or a mental health co-occurring disorder must be for a two-year period and impose the following requirements:
The petitioner's progress under the treatment plan developed by the agency and approved by the court must be provided to the court monthly.
A deferred prosecution based on substance use disorder must also impose the following requirements:
A deferred prosecution based on a mental health co-occurring disorder must also impose the following requirements:
A deferred prosecution based on a mental health disorder where the conduct did not involve and was not caused by alcohol, drugs, or substance use, must include treatment recommended by a mental health provider.
As a condition of granting a deferred prosecution, the court may appoint a probation department or other appropriate person or agency to supervise the petitioner. The supervisor must:
Felony Offender Scores. A deferred prosecution for a second or subsequent DUI or PC offense, or an equivalent local ordinance, counts as one point on a defendant's offender score.
Eligibility for the Impaired Driving Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative. An offender is eligible for the impaired driving DOSA if the offender is convicted of a felony DUI or felony PC and does not have a prior conviction for vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, felony DUI, or felony PC. A motion for an impaired driving DOSA may be made by the court, the offender, or the state if the midpoint of the standard sentence range is 26 months or less. If an offender has a higher midpoint, a joint agreement of the state and offender is required. If the sentencing court determines the offender is eligible for an impaired driving DOSA, and the alternative sentence is appropriate, the court must waive imposition of the standard sentence and impose a prison-based DOSA if the low end of the standard range sentence is greater than 24 months; or impose a residential treatment-based alternative specific to impaired driving offenders if the low end of the standard sentence range is 24 months or less.
To assist the court in making its eligibility determination, the court may order DOC to complete a risk assessment report, a substance use disorder screening report, or both. If the court is considering imposing a sentence under the residential treatment-based alternative, the court may also order DOC to examine the offender and assess whether:
Impaired Driving Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative Requirements. When the court imposes a prison-based impaired driving DOSA, the court must impose a sentence equivalent to, and subject to the same requirements and restrictions as, the traditional prison-based DOSA program already established in statute. An offender who is eligible for a residential treatment-based alternative is sentenced to all of the following:
The court must impose treatment and other appropriate conditions during the periods of partial confinement and community custody. An offender may be required to pay $30 per month while on community custody to offset the cost of monitoring for alcohol or controlled substances. Within available resources, DOC must make substance use disorder assessment and treatment services available to the offender.
Monitoring and Enforcement. When an offender is sentenced to the residential treatment-based alternative DOSA, the treatment provider must send the treatment plan to the court within 30 days of the offender's arrival to the residential treatment program. The court must schedule a progress hearing during the period of treatment and a treatment termination hearing for three months before the expiration of the term of community custody. Before these hearings, the treatment provider and DOC must submit written reports to the court and parties regarding compliance with treatment and monitoring requirements and recommendations regarding termination from treatment.
At the progress hearing or treatment termination hearing, the court may:
Under either the prison-based or residential-based program, the court may bring the offender into court at any time to evaluate treatment progress or determine whether there have been any violations of the conditions of sentence. If the offender violates conditions or is failing to make satisfactory treatment progress, the court may modify the conditions of partial confinement or community custody, or order the offender to serve a term of total confinement within the standard sentencing range of the offender's current offense.
An offender sentenced to total confinement after termination from an impaired driving DOSA is entitled to full credit for any time previously served under the impaired driving DOSA in total confinement or residential treatment, and 50 percent credit for any time previously served in partial confinement or community custody.
An offender serving a term of community custody following termination from the impaired driving DOSA is granted no credit for time served in community custody prior to termination.
Miscellaneous. Changes are made to clarify the impaired driving DOSA is separate from the traditional DOSA that exists in current law, and references to the impaired driving DOSA are added to relevant portions of the Sentencing Reform Act.
PRO: This bill passed the Senate last year 48-0. The reason for the increased felony lookback period is because repeat offenders are the most likely to commit DUI homicide or assault. Increasing the lookback will put Washington more in line with other states. This is the best way to avoid these senseless crimes. There were 745 traffic deaths in Washington State in 2022 and over half of them due to impaired driving. Impaired driving numbers have exploded and there are hundreds of DUI cases unresolved due to court and toxicology backlog. Repeat DUI offenders are not making mistakes. They have an intentional disregard for personal and public safety, and contempt for the courts and laws. This is a tool to prevent impaired driving and to get people the help that they need. It gives invaluable treatment options to repeat offenders by creating a drug offender sentencing alternative for DUI offenders. This bill can help break the cycle of addiction and will reduce the number of drunk drivers on roadways.
No public hearing was held.
PRO: Here to deal with impaired driving. You have seen this bill before. Previously we went from five to four felonies. We are looking to extend the lookback. Some states have no limitation. DUI is a preventable crime. People make a decision to drive impaired. Last year it passed the Senate 48-0. Increased felony lookback period is because repeat offenders are the most likely to commit DUI homicide or assault. There is a traffic crime crisis and drug crisis. It is not a crime of mistake. Many drivers have not been adjudicated due to backlog. These are very dangerous people and the most dangerous addicts in our state. 2022 was the deadliest year on our roadway. In 2022, 745 were killed on the highway with at least half from alcohol or drugs. Strongly support. Good for public safety.