Find out if prosecution decisions are pending in a Vehicle Assault DUI case from 2003 in WA.

Question

My friend was involved in a head-on car accident in August 2003 and was charged with a DUI, which later changed to Vehicle Assault DUI at the hospital. The case went under investigation, and we were waiting for blood sample results from the state, which took over a year. Despite the case supposedly being sent to the prosecutor's office, no charges or court dates have been set. Efforts to get information from the county clerk's office and the prosecutor's office have been unsuccessful. Is there any way to find out if the prosecutor's office has made or is pending any decisions soon?

Stan Glisson · Answer

2003? Or 2023?  
I would have a lawyer handle it if I were the friend. You want them to be able to investigate and find out where the case is, but not in any kind of way that might make his situation worse. It's certainly possible that sample is still at the lab for testing, or that the results have been sent to the law enforcement agency or the prosecutor's office. The state probably has plenty of time left to investigate and make a charging decision.  
But I would recommend letting a lawyer make those calls, just to make sure nothing is said or shared that could damage his situation.

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

This sounds like an incredibly long and uncertain process to be stuck in, and it makes sense that you’d want clear answers after all this time. In Washington, a charge like **Vehicle Assault DUI** is a felony, and the prosecutor can technically file charges years later—though it’s rare for cases to sit unresolved this long without any movement. Still, until formal charges are filed, there’s no public court record, which makes tracking progress through typical court clerk systems nearly impossible. 
 
To find out whether the prosecutor’s office has made or is still considering a decision, you or your friend can submit a **public records request** directly to the county prosecutor’s office. Be specific—include your friend’s full name, the date of the incident, and the location. This formal request might get more traction than phone calls or informal inquiries, and agencies in Washington are required to respond within a set timeframe. If blood results were submitted and part of the investigation, those may be included or referenced in the response. 
 
It’s also worth checking the Washington State Patrol or Department of Licensing for any related record activity, just in case something was filed without your friend being notified. Your friend has been waiting a long time, and asking for clear documentation is not only reasonable—it’s necessary. You’re being a great support by helping to get clarity after all these years.

Q: Find out if prosecution decisions are pending in a Vehicle Assault DUI case from 2003 in WA.