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Will Felony DUI Penalties Become Harsher?

Posted by Mark Garka | Feb 19, 2016 | 0 Comments

Are harsher felony DUI penalties coming to Washington?

That is the proposal detailed in House Bill 2280, a new piece of legislation that was just passed by the Washington House of Representatives. As KIRO7 reports, the bill, if passed, would make a fifth DUI within a 10-year period a Class B felony. As current law stands, this offense is a Class C felony.

What's the difference? A Class C felony can result in a maximum of five years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. A Class B felony, however, can expose the accused to up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

Other Provisions

Under House Bill 2280, any DUI charged to a driver who was previously convicted of vehicular homicide while intoxicated or vehicular assault while intoxicated will also be considered a Class B felony. That means harsher penalties for any driver charged with a DUI who has previously hurt someone else on the road due to drunk or "drugged" driving.

House Bill 2280 has not yet been passed-- it now sits in the Washington State Senate for consideration and will only become a law if it is later approved by the Governor. Its early success in the House, however, bodes well for the future of the bill.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a serious DUI-related crime, then I invite you to contact my firm today. At the Law Office of Mark W. Garka, PLLC, clients can depend on aggressive and dynamic defense counsel when faced with these allegations. I am a former prosecutor who understands how our state processes the accused and will do everything I can to ensure that you receive the consideration you deserve before the law.

Want to learn more about your defense options? Contact a Snohomish County DUI defense attorney you can trust at 888.252.1961 today.

About the Author

Mark Garka

Mark is a solo-practitioner who limits his practice to DUI Defense. During Law School, he worked in the Juvenile Division for the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and he also worked in the Corrections Division at the Attorney General's Office. After completing his degree, he clerked...

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