Washington

Washington Legislation

Year of last legislative change: 2022

Year of last revision to administrative code: 2022

Most challenging aspects associated with introducing and passing interlock legislation:
Any legislative proposals would have to be Agency Request and would need to be submitted to and approved by the Executive Branch, so only a very limited number of agency proposals are even considered each year.

Changes for program improvement being pursued:
Plans to change language within the administrative code to ensure they are updated, clearer and more concise.

Who is eligible for an interlock in your state according to legislation (Data provided by CIIM):
All impaired drivers

Can impaired drivers 'wait out' their interlock requirement:
No

Is an interlock required on test refusal:
Yes

Program Authority

Type of program: Hybrid

Agency/agencies with authority over the interlock program:
Washington State Patrol, Driver Licensing, Courts and Probation

Agency/agencies with authority over participant monitoring:
Washington State Patrol, Driver Licensing

Agency/agencies with authority over sanctioning interlock program participants:
Washington State Patrol, Driver Licensing

Agency/agencies with authority to approve devices:
Washington State Patrol, Driver Licensing

Training available for judges, law enforcement, and lawyers:
When requested, WSP will train any agency who asks. WSP typically presents at the annual DUI bootcamp for new prosecutors. This presentation is usually one to two hours and is exclusively about the ignition interlock devices and the program.

Program Features

Hardship license available to first offenders: No

Hardship license available to repeat offenders: No

Hardship license (First offenders, Repeat offenders, All): No

Lookback period: Lifetime

Source of funding: Fee-based. Some fees are mandatory and required of all interlock restricted drivers, while others may be waived depending on indigence.

Indigent funding is available to participants: Yes

Qualification requirements for indigent funding: Receipt of food stamps or social assistanceBelow the poverty line

Frequency of interlock device service: 60 days

Participation Rate

Participation

Participation Rate: 33

Number of interlock program participants in 2019: As of 2021 we have 25,000 statewide

Indicator used to determine the number of participants in the interlock program (e.g., certificate of device installation, certificate of device removal):
Certificate of installation and monthly active client report provided by each manufacturer (for the purposes of fee submission)

Indicator(s) used in state as the best measure(s) of the eligible population of offenders for the interlock program to determine the program participation rate:
Number of affidavit receipts for impaired driving, number of impaired driving arrests, number of impaired driving convictions, and number of court/probation orders for interlock

Penalties for non-compliance: Awaiting data

Program Length

Length of Hard Suspension

1st offenders: 0 months

2nd offenders: 0 months

3rd offenders: 0 months

4th and subsequent offenders: 120 months

Interlock Program Length

1st offenders: 6-12 months

2nd offenders: 12-60 months

3rd offenders: 60-120 months

4th and subsequent offenders: Awaiting data

Compliance/Non-Compliance

Program length is extended for non-compliance: Yes

Length of extension for non-compliance: 180 days

Program length is reduced for compliance: No

Length of reduction for compliance: N/A

Frequency of sanctions imposed for non-compliance: Occasionally

Program exit requirements: Compliance-based removal

Treatment

Treatment is required for the interlock program: Yes

Components applied to treatment: Yes

Data Collection & Management

Agency responsible for collecting data: WSP and the Department of Licensing

Overview of Data Management: WSP collects criminal offense and violation data. The Department of Licensing receives non-compliance data (i.e., violations, tampering, circumvention), installations, and removals.

Barriers to data collection: DOL does not share data with WSP due to privacy concerns.

Vendors in State

Vendor Oversight

Number of Vendors in State: 5

Agency responsible for vendor oversight: WSP

Approval process for new vendors: Application review, field test of device, and meets service center coverage requirements.

Vendor recertification: Annually

Interlock technology features (Data provided by CIIM): Camera, GPS

Radius requirement for service centers: Yes

Radius requirement: Each service center is allotted a 75 mile coverage area, statewide coverage required.

Jurisdiction: