Originally published Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 10:35 AM

State to begin impounding cars after DUI arrests

Those arrested for drunken driving will see their cars impounded in a new law that went into effect Friday.

Seattle Times staff reporter

Yea this is great; the State impounds your car and sells you the booze too! (July 21, 2011, by papawh) Read more

I know DUI is a serious offense but how far are (collective) we willing to go to punis... (July 21, 2011, by lad240) Read more

So you want the person to be punished whether he is guilty or not.Impound charges are... (July 21, 2011, by otra side) Read more

Read all 112 comments > Post a comment >

Those arrested for drunken driving will see their cars impounded in a new law that went into effect Friday.

There also is a mandatory 12-hour hold at towing companies before a vehicle can be released.

It's all part of a new law passed by the Washington Legislature this year.

The 2011 Legislature passed the law after realizing that people released after being arrested for driving under the influence could quickly end up behind the wheel again, said the Washington State Patrol.

Because of limited jail space, when someone is arrested for suspicion of drunken driving they typically have been released to another adult or allowed to take a taxi home. But sometimes the driver would return to his or her car and drive away.

"This is about making sure that impaired drivers don't return to their cars and drive again before they've sobered up," said State Patrol Chief John Batiste, in a news release. "This isn't about trying to punish someone for driving drunk. If they're found guilty that will become the court's job."

The State Patrol points to a 2007 incident where a jury awarded $5.5 million to a woman injured in a crash with a drunken driver.

The judgment was against Whatcom County and the State Patrol.

The jury found the State Patrol negligent because the woman took a cab back to her car after being arrested for drunken driving. Then she was involved in an accident, seriously injuring another driver.

"It was the classic case of being between a rock and a hard place," Batiste said. "We had someone whose judgment we knew was impaired, but we couldn't lock them up and we couldn't secure their vehicle."

Under the new law, there are three exceptions to the 12-hour requirement: If the car is owned by someone other than the person arrested, the owner can reclaim the car at the impound lot; a registered co-owner can claim the car; and commercial and farm vehicles can be reclaimed by the legal owner if it's not the person arrested.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com