Governor Signs Bill To Toughen DUI Law

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill that will double the maximum fine and prison sentence for a felony-level driving under the influence conviction.

Inslee signed House Bill 2280 on Thursday, which will make those guilty of felony DUI, at most, spend 10 years in prison and pay a $20,000 fine.

Under existing law, a felony DUI is a Class C felony, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 penalty. A person's fifth DUI within 10 years is a felony, but the first four are gross misdemeanors. A DUI for someone previously convicted of vehicular assault or vehicular homicide while intoxicated is also a felony-level offense.