New WA State Law Takes You Back 15 Years for a Prior DUI
A new WA State Law going into effect on January 1, 2026, will count previous DUI and negligent driving convictions on your record for longer than it used to be.
If you have a driving under the influence or negligent driving charge in Washington State, previously it would count against your record up to ten years. A new law that goes into effect on the first day of the new year will make your criminal record count against you longer than you was previously considered.
Washington DUI Convictions Will Count Against You Longer Now
Current Washington law says that if you get arrested again for driving intoxicated, whether it was for an alcohol related offense or drugs, that record would not count against you after ten years from the conviction. The new law says that it will now go up to 15 years instead of ten.
House Bill 1493 was signed into law on March 2025 with 69 yeas and was sponsored by a bipartisan coalition that voted yes to the bill, although there were two Republicans from the local 14th and 15th district in the Central Washington area who voted to support the bill (Chris Corry and Gina Mosbrucker, who resigned from the legislature in January 2025).
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Those who were under fear of their gross misdemeanor mistakes following them inside a 10-year span will now have to bear extended grief for their criminal mistakes for the next five years, namely an unexpected increase to a 15-year span.
Individuals who had up to two previous negligent driving or driving while intoxicated convictions prior to June 9, 2016 will now have to make sure their records are clean past January 2030.
Other laws that will go into effect include an increase for teen workers ages 14 and 15, who will see a minimum wage hike alongside other Washington employees
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