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The seven-day deadline, what the Department of Licensing hearing actually decides, and how it runs alongside your criminal case.
SHORT ANSWER
You have seven days from your arrest to request a Department of Licensing hearing. Miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically when your temporary permit expires.
This hearing is separate from your criminal case. Winning one does not decide the other, and you can lose the criminal case and still keep your license.
A Washington DUI arrest starts two separate matters. The criminal case moves through district or superior court and decides whether you are convicted. The administrative case is handled by the Department of Licensing and decides only one thing: whether you keep your driver’s license.
They run on different timelines, follow different rules of evidence, and are decided by different people. The DOL hearing usually happens first, and it happens fast — which is why the seven-day window matters more than almost anything else in the early weeks of a case.
| SITUATION | LICENSE CONSEQUENCE | INTERLOCK |
|---|---|---|
| Test taken, BAC 0.08 | 90-day suspension | 1 year |
| Test taken, BAC 0.15 | 1-year suspension | 1 year |
| First refusal | 1-year revocation | 1 year |
| Second refusal within 7 yrs | 2-year revocation | 5 years |
These figures are for standard, non-commercial drivers. Commercial drivers and drivers under 21 may face different consequences.
Refusing the test can cost more than taking it. A refusal may trigger a longer revocation and can still be used against you.
The request is due within seven days of arrest, and weekends and holidays count. The filing fee is $375, waivable if you qualify as indigent. We handle DOL hearings as part of your representation — if you call early, this is one less thing for you to track.
The examiner at a DOL hearing decides a short list of specific questions — not whether you were “really” impaired in some general sense.
None of these are automatic wins — they depend on the discovery in your case — but they are the questions the hearing is built to answer.
Don’t explain yourself to anyone
Not the officer, not the prosecutor, not an insurance adjuster. Anything you say becomes part of the record.
In Washington, you generally have seven days from the date of arrest to request a Department of Licensing hearing. Weekends and holidays count.
DOL hearings are conducted by telephone in most cases. We handle the hearing on your behalf, present the argument, and question the officer if the officer appears. In many cases you do not need to say anything at all.
No. A DOL hearing only decides whether you keep your driver’s license. Your criminal case is separate and continues in court.
Generally no. Driving while your license is suspended can lead to additional penalties. Some drivers may qualify for an ignition interlock license or another limited driving privilege, depending on the suspension. Ask before you drive.
How to keep driving during a suspension, and what the device costs.
What the roadside tests measure, and the conditions that make them unreliable.
Your first court appearance — what happens and what to expect.
We’ll review your case and call you back today.
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★★★★★ “He answered my questions the same day, every time. Worth every penny.” — R.T., CAMAS
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