Legal Question in DUI Law in Washington

Re: Held hostage by the state - pay the ransom

A person convicted of DUI tangles with the state on two fronts - court/probation and DOL.

Court - you can be placed on probation for up to 5 years. This period will not run when you are absent from supervision/jurisdiction, e.g. if you're placed on probation for 2 years and a warrant is out for 8 months, the 2 year period can be extended for at least 8 months. The court can keep you on probation for 5 years or until you have served 365 days in jail. You remain obligated to pay court costs and fines.

DOL - consequences depend on how many DUIs and BAC Refusals you have on your record, but the suspension of your driving privilege will never be lifted until the filing an SR22 insurance certificate, completing* any recommended alcohol treatment/education and paying a $150 reinstatment fee. Even if you served a year in jail for never completing alcohol treatment as ordered by the court, DOL will maintain the suspension of your driving privilege until you provide proof of alcohol treatment*.

If you're facing a probation violation in your court case, contact an attorney in your area.

*DOL will reinstate your driving privilege if you have at least 60 days participation in alcohol treatment and they continue to receive satisfactory compliance reports until the program is completed.