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Published on January 21, 2025
Washington State Battles DUI Toxicology Backlog, Seattle Reports Over 400-Day Wait for ResultsSource: Google Street View

As Washington legislators meet this January, the state's DUI toxicology backlog has become a key issue. The backlog at the state lab has led to an average wait of over 400 days for DUI results, delaying prosecutions and leaving cases unresolved, according to the City of Seattle.

Washington's DUI-related fatalities have increased by 96% in the last decade, and the backlog at the state lab, which handles DUI toxicology tests, is slowing down justice. The lab, the only one authorized to process these cases, has seen a 50% rise in workload since 2014. Despite a new facility, the backlog is causing delays, with cases from 2023 only now being processed, potentially delaying resolutions until 2026. This delay risks compromising case integrity and supervision of DUI suspects, as reported by the City of Seattle.

Proposed legislation in Washington aims to improve DUI testing by allowing private, nationally accredited labs to handle toxicology samples. As stated in a Seattle News article, "We need our Washington legislators to modify state law to allow private, nationally accredited labs to test DUI toxicology samples." Legislators Hackney and Barkis are leading the effort, hoping to align Washington with states like Oregon and New York where private labs are already used. The reform seeks to enhance road safety and efficiency in the justice system, with public safety as a key priority, as mentioned by the City of Seattle.