Q: How can months after my license was suspended can the state impose new requirements for me to get my license reinstated?
License was suspended for 90 days because of being charged with a dui. After a year and a half of programs, counseling, driving classes, victim panels and fees went to court and had the charge reduced to a reckless. Which then came with another suspension of 30 days plus all of the fees AGAIN!! To reinstate my license. I was able to reinstate my license up to a few days ago. Now because of the covid-19 I have not been able to go to a licensing office to pay for all the fees, how is it now possible that the state just sent me a new notification stating that now I have to have an ILL installed in all of my vehicles for 180 days?!! That was not part of the sentencing from the court!! So how is it possible that the state can retroactively add this as a requirement to get my license reinstated??
A: When a driver is arrested for a DUI in Washington State, there are two different public agencies that have the authority to control what happens to the driver: the courts and the state drivers license agency, here DOL. The court has certain authority over the defendant and his or her criminal traffic case that includes imposing or suspending jail time and fines, requiring substance abuse evaluations, requiring attendance for treatment and at victims panels and ADIS classes. The authority of the DOL is separate and distinct from the court and there are different laws and regulations that give the DOL authority over the driver and how and when a driver's license is issued and what requirements or conditions must be complied with before a driver can drive after being convicted of an alcohol related driving offense, e.g., DUI, a "wet" reckless driving or Negligent Driving First Degree. Therefore, you will have to comply with whatever DOL says you must do and that is separate from what the court has already done. Good Luck!
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