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Archive for March, 2013

DUI – Can you refuse to have your breath tested?

Posted on: March 18th, 2013 by Joe Cunnane

The State of Washington’s Implied Consent law – Basically reads, if you drive a vehicle, you automatically give consent to have your breath or blood tested if a law enforcement officer believes you have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The officer shall inform the person of his or her right to refuse the breath or blood test, and of his or her right to have additional tests administered by any qualified person of his or her choosing as provided in RCW 46.61.506. The officer shall warn the driver, in substantially the following language, that:

(a) If the driver refuses to take the test, the driver’s license, permit, or privilege to drive will be revoked or denied for at least one year; and

(b) If the driver refuses to take the test, the driver’s refusal to take the test may be used in a criminal trial; and

(c) If the driver submits to the test and the test is administered, the driver’s license, permit, or privilege to drive will be suspended, revoked, or denied for at least ninety days if the driver is age twenty-one or over and the test indicates the alcohol concentration of the driver’s breath or blood is 0.08 or more, or if the driver is under age twenty-one and the test indicates the alcohol concentration of the driver’s breath or blood is 0.02 or more, or if the driver is under age twenty-one and the driver is in violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504; and

(d) If the driver’s license, permit, or privilege to drive is suspended, revoked, or denied the driver may be eligible to immediately apply for an ignition interlock driver’s license.

 

Although your driver’s license will not be suspended automatically, the amount of time until the suspension takes effect depends on the type of offense. Once that has been determined your license can be suspended from 90 days to 4 years.

No driver’s license? No problem! If you are stopped for a DUI, it will be reported the same way as a licensed driver and the Washington State Department of Licensing will create a record based on the information provided by the law enforcement agency.

To learn more about DUI in the State of Washington, please visit Washington State Department of Licensing.

Do you have Auto Insurance Liability?

Posted on: March 18th, 2013 by Joe Cunnane

When driving through our beautiful state of Washington, do you know if you have the proper coverage? Are you aware that it is mandatory to have liability?

The law requires anyone driving a motor vehicle in our state to have an insurance liability policy, a certificate of deposit, or a liability bond to the required limits. If you have 26 or more vehicles, you can self-insure.

Under the law, you’re required to have a liability policy with limits of at least 25/50/10. This means:

  • $25,000 for injury to another person
  • $50,000 for injuries to all other persons
  • $10,000 for damage to another’s property

You must carry the same limits if you choose to buy a bond instead of an insurance policy. If you use a certificate of deposit, you must deposit $60,000 in cash or securities with the Office of the State Treasurer. If you’re insuring 26 or more vehicles, you can self-insure through the Washington State Department of Licensing.

(425) 672-7100