WA DUI Law Update: New Bill Could Allow Vacates and Second Chances

A bill currently moving through the Washington State Legislature could significantly change how DUI convictions are treated in Washington. Under current law, a conviction for Driving Under the Influence cannot be vacated from your record. This proposed legislation would change that by making certain DUI convictions eligible to be vacated, although there would still be important limits—for example, a person would likely only be able to vacate one DUI.

The bill also proposes shortening the waiting period for vacating reduced charges that often come out of DUI cases, such as Reckless Driving or Negligent Driving. Currently, people must wait ten years before asking a court to vacate those convictions. The proposal would cut that waiting period in half, allowing people to apply after five years instead.

Supporters say the change is meant to fix a lack of proportionality in Washington law. Right now, some more serious crimes can eventually be vacated, but DUIs cannot. If this bill passes, it would give people a clearer path to moving forward after a DUI conviction—while still keeping meaningful limits in place.