Victims’ families pushing for stricter DUI laws

Those who have lost loved ones because of drunken drivers will be pushing for stricter DUI laws Monday morning.

They’re gathering at the state Capitol in hopes of getting legislation passed before the session ends.

DUIs have been on the decline in the state since 2009, when Washington adopted one of the strictest laws in the country, KIRO 7 reports.

Related: 911 calls show King County deputies failed to respond to DUI

Anyone who is convicted of a DUI must have an interlock device installed on their vehicle, even if they are a first-time offender.

The group Mothers Against Drunk Driving says that has led to an 18 percent decline in DUI arrests, but they want more, including sobriety checkpoints.

“That sobriety checkpoint will not only catch alcohol impaired drivers, but also drug impaired drivers,” said MADD member Wilma Comenat.

The families of those injured and killed by drunken drivers are also pushing for interlock devices on the vehicles of those who strike a plea deal in their DUI case, as well as allowing for felony prosecutions after the third DUI conviction.

Those families, advocates and lawmakers are holding a news conference Monday at 9:15 a.m. in Olympia.

Though there are only a few days left in the legislative session, money may be the group’s biggest hurdle to getting stricter laws passed.

Lawmakers are working to pay hundreds of millions in wildfire damage, boost funding at Western State Hospital and increase trooper pay to try to fix the staffing issues in the State Patrol.