Seattle city attorney pushes for approval of state bill to speed up DUI cases

(The Center Square) – Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison is calling on the Washington State Legislature to pass a House bill that seeks to alleviate the state’s sole toxicology lab’s backlog of blood tests for driving under the influence cases.

Currently, state law only allows blood sampling in DUI cases to be done solely by the Toxicology Laboratory Division of the Washington State Patrol, which has created a backlog in pending tests for DUI cases.

As a result of the backlog, the state toxicology lab takes an average of more than 400 days to return toxicology results necessary to proceed with DUI cases, according to Davison.

“The state backlog means we are just now receiving results for DUI arrests that occurred in the first half of 2023,” Davison said in a statement on Thursday. “If a possible DUI is referred by Seattle police to my office today, based on the current backlog, results likely will not arrive until sometime in 2026.”

House Bill 1228 would amend state law to allow certified private laboratories to test blood draw samples in DUI cases. It was Introduced last week by House Repr. David Hackney, D-Tukwila, and Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia.

- Advertisement -

The Seattle Police Department refers more than 1,000 DUI cases to Davison’s office. Notably, more than half of those cases involve drugs, rather than alcohol.

Davison notes that the delay in toxicology results can lead to DUI suspects going unsupervised and driving impaired again, or witnesses moving away.

“Legislators must pass this bill to allow alternatives to process the blood samples so we, as a society, can better send the message that we take our road safety seriously and will hold accountable anyone putting all of us at risk because of impaired driving,” Davison said.

If the bill is passed, Washington would join Oregon, Colorado, New York and New Jersey in allowing testing by federally accredited private toxicology labs.

HB 1228 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety on Jan. 27.

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Report questions utility of Trump’s steel tariffs

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump’s unilateral tariffs...

Fuel prices absorb tariff talk spike, volatility

(The Center Square) – Fuel prices in North Carolina...

Minimum wage deal pending, set to increase to $12.48 Friday

(The Center Square) – A last-minute legislative compromise on...

Annual statewide audit reveals billions in questioned costs and mismanagement

(The Center Square) − The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s latest...

Illinoisans can nominate and choose coolest products made in the state

(The Center Square) – Nominations are now being accepted...

Report: Mental health funding skips high-need areas

(The Center Square) - California’s mental health funding skips...

King Soopers strike continues as company calls for an agreement

(The Center Square) – The workers strike at King...

Sandhills transformer facility expansion aided by performance grant

(The Center Square) – North Carolina’s Commerce Department is...

More like this
Related

Report questions utility of Trump’s steel tariffs

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump’s unilateral tariffs...

Fuel prices absorb tariff talk spike, volatility

(The Center Square) – Fuel prices in North Carolina...

Minimum wage deal pending, set to increase to $12.48 Friday

(The Center Square) – A last-minute legislative compromise on...

Annual statewide audit reveals billions in questioned costs and mismanagement

(The Center Square) − The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s latest...