Wash. lawmakers reach deal on tougher DUI laws

Washington lawmakers have reached agreement on new measures to crack down on drivers who repeatedly drive under the influence, but budget constraints forced them to back off on some more aggressive measures proposed earlier this year.

A revised proposal approved Wednesday in the Senate would require interlock devices to be installed on someone’s vehicle if they are charged with a second impaired driving offense. The state would also begin a pilot program in three counties and two states to conduct daily alcohol monitoring on a person convicted twice under the DUI law.

But the bi-partisan legislation backed away from a costly proposal that would have increased minimum jail times for such offenders and made DUI a felony on a 4th offense rather than the current 5th.

“We’re going to get tough by getting smart. We’re going to be holding them accountable without breaking the bank,” said Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland), one of the leaders of the state’s DUI working group.

“We didn’t have the tens of millions of dollars to pay for extra jail or prison time and the research is unclear on lengthy sentences and their effect on deterring anybody else.”

The Senate voted Wednesday evening to approve the plan by a 46-0 margin, while the House is expected to vote on the bill as early as Thursday.

Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, calls the measure “an effective blend of compassion and consequences.”

“As I’ve told my colleagues more than once, DUI is a completely preventable crime,” said Padden, chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, “and this bill is less about punishment than it is about preventing DUI offenders from harming others – and adding another conviction to their records.

The legislation includes leveraging federal funds from the Affordable Care Act to provide drug and alcohol treatment to those who can’t afford it in lieu of jail time.

“We are going after the underlying cause of drunk driving,” Goodman said. “It’s a very lucky opportunity for us to get funding for substance abuse treatment for those who can’t afford it.”

According to Goodman, the bill calls for creation of a new advisory group that will begin meeting soon and recommend additional measure next year. Among proposals to be considered are reducing the number of convictions making DUI a felony and sobriety checkpoints, Goodman said.

The legislation comes in the wake of a number of high-profile DUI crashes, including one in Wedgewood in March that killed a couple and critically injured their daughter-in-law and newborn grandson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report