The proposed bill seeks to amend Washington's impaired driving laws by lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 0.08 to 0.05. This change is intended to align Washington's regulations with those of many other countries that have successfully reduced alcohol-related fatalities through similar measures. The bill addresses the alarming rise in impaired driving incidents in Washington, which saw a 59% increase in crashes involving impaired drivers from 2019 to 2023. Key amendments include changes to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) sections defining driving under the influence, establishing new penalties for violations, and outlining affirmative defenses for individuals who consumed alcohol after driving.

In addition to lowering the BAC limit, the bill introduces stricter penalties and monitoring requirements for DUI offenders, including mandatory imprisonment, sobriety programs, and electronic home monitoring based on the offender's BAC level. It also updates the procedures for breath and blood testing, clarifies definitions related to prior offenses, and specifies that all fines apply only to adult offenders. The bill further addresses the suspension and revocation of driving privileges, establishes a fee for formal hearings, and mandates a public information campaign to educate the public about the new regulations. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance public safety by tightening DUI regulations and improving enforcement mechanisms.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 46.61.502, 46.61.504, 46.61.5055, 46.61.506, 46.20.308, 46.20.3101, 46.25.090, 38.38.760, 79A.60.040
Substitute Bill: 46.61.502, 46.61.504, 46.61.5055, 46.61.506, 46.20.308, 46.20.3101, 46.25.090, 38.38.760, 79A.60.040