Washington DUI
Washington DUI laws: 7 days to save your license
The license case moves first, and you have 7 days from the arrest to ask for a hearing.
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Washington case for free and connects you with a Washington DUI lawyer.
Arrested for DUI in Washington? 7 days to ask for the hearing.
Counted from the arrest. If that was today, the last day is Friday, October 16. Miss it and the suspension starts on its own (DOL rule).
The two clocks: court and DOL
Your Washington DUI arrest opened a criminal case and a separate license case with the DOL. If that time runs out, your license can be suspended before you ever see a judge.
Washington's hearing window is one of the shortest in the country: 7 days from the arrest, not from a letter. (DOL rule)
A first offense in Washington
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Jail | 24 consecutive hours to 364 days (or 15 days of home monitoring) |
| License (DOL) | 90 days to 2 years, starting 30 days from the arrest |
The judge picks a number inside each range. So ask where cases like yours land in Washington (Washington penalty rules).
Second and later offenses
A prior raises the penalty in every state, and Washington is no exception. Tell the lawyer about any earlier case on the first call. Second offense DUI rules lists the states with published ranges.
Add-on fines and the newest change
- After a conviction: 90 days to 4 years after a conviction, starting 45 days after DOL gets the court notice (DOL).
Newest change in Washington. Since January 1, 2026, Washington looks back 15 years, not 10, when it decides whether a new DUI is a felony. (Washington DUI felony lookback)
See how the interlock works and the DUI penalties table.
What a lawyer costs in Washington
Lawyers in Washington set their own fees. Ask what a quote covers: the court case, the DOL hearing, a trial. DUI lawyer cost lists the questions to ask.
Check a lawyer's license
The lawyer who takes your case handles DUI cases in Washington and holds an active Washington license. Ask for the bar number on the call and it is yours to keep.
What to do now
Losing your license can mean losing your job, your rides and your routine. In Washington, you have 7 days from the arrest to fight for it. Call at any hour, and a lawyer for Washington goes over your case tonight and asks for the police records.
Call about Washington DUI (877) 317-9931
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Washington case for free and connects you with a Washington DUI lawyer.
Send your case details
Send the date of your Washington arrest and the date printed on your DOL notice. Those two dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls you starts there.