Vehicle forfeitures for 2nd offense DUI’s? It may become the standard in Washington. They are testing the procedure in Yakima. Recently Yakima police, along with a Yakima assistant city attorney, seized the vehicle of a repeat DUI offender while she was serving a 75 day jail sentence for her second drunken-driving offense within 7 years. The city relied upon a 1994 state law that apparently has never been used, and city officials ok’d the seizure to see if it can be a useful tool in reducing DUI’s in Yakima.
The 1994 law allows for the seizure of a vehicle when the motorist has been convicted of multiple DUI’s within a seven year period, and the vehicle at issue was driven during the incident and is owned by and registered to the motorist. No one is quite sure why the law has never been implemented, but it could be because of the myriad of hoops and safeguards protecting innocent spouses and other possible lien holders of the vehicles at issue.
It is clear, government agencies in Washington State are continuing to look for ways to crack down on DUI related incidents. The noose keeps getting tighter. Now more than ever, one cited for DUI is well advised to hire a qualified Seattle DUI attorney as soon as possible. Driving Under the Influence allegations in Washington State are extremely serious, and can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with DUI in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle DUI lawyer. The Seattle criminal attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle DUI defense lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested for DUI in Western Washington. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the criminal allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances.