Free DUI Lawyer Washington

Reader’s Question:

My father is a company driver and just two days ago, he was charged with DUI here in Washington. He wasn’t fired by the company he works for because he has been employed there for more than a decade and this is his first DUI charge. What would be the effects of his DUI arrest on his job as a driver?

Izzie

Shoreline, WA

A DUI arrest in Washington State sets in motion two ways that your father can suffer due to loss of his license. First is the administrative license suspension at the hands of the Department of Licensing and by court action if he is subsequently convicted of DUI.

Immediately after the DUI arrest, if he didn’t refuse the blood alcohol test, his driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days and he may be eligible to have a temporary restricted license but only after he has served 30 days of the suspension. Thus, since his job absolutely depends upon driving, a DUI arrest can make him unable to perform his job for a minimum of 30 days.

If he survives the 30 days of absolute suspension, he will then be eligible for a temporary restricted license which will permit him to drive to and from work for the remaining 60 days of the 90-day license suspension. His employer must sign the temporary restricted license application.

Since your father is driving a company car, as a condition of granting a temporary restricted license after a DUI arrest, the Washington State Department of Licensing requires proof that an ignition interlock device is installed in the vehicle that your father is driving. This device is a breath testing machine attached to the car’s ignition that he must blow into every time he starts the vehicle and also periodically while driving the vehicle. The car will not start if alcohol is present and the horn will honk and lights flash if alcohol is detected while driving.

Tags: Absolute, Administrative License Suspension, Alcohol License, Blood Alcohol Test, Company Car, Decade, Department Of Licensing, Driver License, Driver S License, Dui Arrest, Dui Charge, Dui Conviction, Ignition Interlock Device, Job, License Application, Proof, Shoreline Wa, Two Ways, Washington State Department, Washington State Department Of Licensing