(Author’s Note: This article was originally published in 2005. Much has changed since then and the reader is encouraged to check the websites of today’s DUI defense law firms for updates.)

Although you won’t find “job loss” in Washington state DUI laws, a drunk driving arrest can have a devastating impact on your continued employment. If you need to drive to get to work, or must drive to do your job, a DUI arrest in Washington state sets in motion two ways you can suffer from the loss of your license:

(1) administratively at the hands of the Department of Licensing

(2) by court action if you are subsequently convicted of DUI.

In the state of Washington, when a breath test was taken and the result was .08 or higher, the Department of Licensing will attempt to administratively suspend your license even if you are not charged with the crime of DUI. In most cases, you will be eligible to apply for an ignition interlock license, but this requires you to drive (with few exceptions) only if the vehicle you are driving has an ignition interlock device installed.

There is an exception to the ignition interlock law that allows you to drive an employer’s vehicle, if the job requires it, without an ignition interlock. The application for this can be found on various websites, including the Fox Bowman Duarte website.

An ignition lock means your car will not start if alcohol is present, and the horn will sound and the lights will flash if alcohol is detected while driving. The employment implications of this in-car breath-testing device are ominous for salespeople requiring customer interaction: Few potential customers are impressed by a salesperson who drives a vehicle with an ignition interlock.

Beyond this, people who must travel for business and then must rent cars at destination outlets will not be able to rent cars for as long as an ignition lock is required, which will affect the ability to travel for business. Currently, no car rental agencies are known to have ignition interlock equipped vehicles in their fleets.

Criminal penalties:

Even without a record, up to a year in jail can be imposed, and if the breath test is denied, a two-year license revocation is imposed. Then the ignition lockout requirement exists for at least one year after the suspension has been served.

If there is a prior DUI offense within seven years of the arrest date for the current incident, things get much worse if your job requires interstate travel. New Washington state DUI law requires such a person to obtain permission from the Department of Corrections before traveling between states. The application process is time consuming and will greatly hinder or even prevent interstate business travel.

There are some careers that will be jeopardized by a DUI arrest or conviction for reasons other than loss of ability to drive. Corporate officials, public figures, sports figures or employees with security clearances or those in sensitive positions may find, if the matter comes to the attention of the media, that the impact of the resulting adverse publicity is more damaging to career than the actual “legal consequences” of a DUI. The author of this article has represented people in this situation. Such cases must be well defended and handled carefully, with the goal of preserving the race and minimizing potential legal consequences.