Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 30, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke cracks down on drunk driving

OLYMPIA - With Gov. Gary Locke's signature today, 13 measures representing a broad crackdown on drunken driving will become law. The laws will mean a lowering of the legal blood-alcohol limit from .10 to .08, new law enforcement tools such as the option to administratively suspend a first-time drunken driving offender's license, and tougher sentencing provisions.

"In December I proposed a major crackdown on drunken driving and would like to thank legislators of both parties for their concerted efforts to improve safety on our roads and highways," Locke said. "Nearly all my proposals were approved this session, which will make families in our state safer from the ravages of drunken driving."

Over 300 Washington citizens died last year because of drunken driving. According to estimates, 35 to 40 lives per year would be saved in Washington under the lower standard for blood-alcohol levels. Drunken driving in Washington is blamed for more than 1,000 injuries per year, 12,000 accidents and more than $500 million in property damage.

"The terrible tragedies caused by drunken driving are preventable," Locke emphasized. "The laws I'm signing today will help reduce the damage drunken driving inflicts on families all across our state."

Locke signed, with the exception of a few minor sections, the following measures:

Senate Bill 6257 reduces the blood-alcohol limit for drunken driving from .10 to .08.

Senate Bill 6142 requires license suspension for first-time drunken drivers without going to court first.

House Bill 3089 limits deferred prosecution to once in a driver's lifetime, and strengthens the conditions of deferred prosecution.

Senate Bill 6293 requires electronic home monitoring for repeat offenders after they complete their jail time. It also requires DUI defendants to appear personally in court the day after arrest, rather than having an attorney appear for them. This will help ensure they know how to get treatment if they haven't had it.

House Bill 1221 allows local governments to impound cars when the driver's license has been suspended or revoked, because of drunken driving or other violations. Locke vetoed one section of the bill, which would have authorized the use of vehicle-immobilizing "boots," because of some drafting problems and practical difficulties with implementation.

Senate Bill 6187 increases fees drunken drivers must pay to get their licenses back, from $50 to $150. This revenue will go directly to counties and cities to help pay the cost of enforcing these new laws.

Senate Bill 6165 requires drunken drivers with an alcohol level above .15 to have an ignition interlock, which will prevent the car from starting unless the driver is sober. This bill is known as The Mary Johnsen Act, in memory of Mary Johnsen, who died last year at the hands of a chronic, repeat drunken driver.

At the request of law enforcement and prosecutors, Locke vetoed a section that would have required all drunken drivers be charged and arraigned within 21 days of arrest. Locke said he didn't want to hamstring prosecutors in those rare cases when an investigation might require more time. At the request of counties citing the need for more experience before adopting mandatory sentences, Locke vetoed sections mandating jail time and impounding for interlock violations.

House Bill 2500 authorizes law enforcement officers from other states to pursue drunken drivers across the border into Washington when necessary.

Senate Bill 6408 requires courts to consider the presence of passengers in the car when they sentence drunken drivers.

Senate Bill 6166 requires courts to verify the complete criminal history and driving record before disposing of a drunken driving case. The new law also increases sentences for vehicular homicide based on prior DUI convictions.

House Bill 3070 extends to seven years from five the length of time a DUI conviction will appear on the offender's record for purposes of mandatory sentencing, and requires the Department of Licensing to maintain deferred prosecution records permanently. For technical reasons, Locke vetoed a section that duplicates a section in another bill.

House Bill 2885 allows electronic home monitoring instead of jail time for first offenders. This can help save local governments money and free up jail beds for other cases.

House Bill 1254 requires district courts to keep permanent records of drunken drivers' convictions.

Some of the new laws take effect on Jan. 1, 1999, while others become effective June 11.

Although Locke said the new laws won't completely halt all drunken driving, "Every life saved will make these efforts worthwhile," Locke said. "Washington law now says to drunken drivers we will take your license, send you to jail, send you home with an ankle bracelet, put an interlock on your car's ignition, close the loopholes and give you one chance only, forever, to get treatment. That's a strong message. I believe people will this take very, very seriously," Locke added.

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive