Washington State Alcohol Laws

The State of Washington has many alcohol-related rules and regulations, from where alcohol may be sold to who may consume it. Violating these rules can lead to penalties including fines and even jail time. If you were recently charged with an alcohol-related violation, you should seek out the advice of an experienced defense attorney.

A driver over the age of 21 who operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher may be charged with driving under the influence (DUI). In order to determine his or her BAC, the driver may be asked to take a breath, blood or urine test. If the driver’s BAC is .15 or higher, he or she may face additional penalties.

Washington’s Zero Tolerance laws make it a crime for drivers under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher. The penalties for violating this law may include fines and a driver’s license suspension.

If a driver is pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving, and refuses to take a chemical test, his or her license may be automatically suspended by the Washington Department of Licensing. This is due to implied consent laws, which state that a driver is required to take a chemical test if one is requested by law enforcement. The penalty for a breath test refusal is at least a one-year driver’s license revocation.

Washington’s Open Container law states opened container of alcohol must not be located in the passenger area of a vehicle, but instead placed in the trunk.

To learn more about Washington alcohol laws, contact the experienced attorneys at Callahan Law today.