Washington aims to curb drunk driving with bold civil protection orders

Imagine a world where someone known to drive under the influence could be legally stopped before ever getting behind the wheel intoxicated again.

That’s the bold idea behind Washington House Bill 1426, a groundbreaking proposal that had its first public hearing Tuesday in front of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee.

If passed, the bill would create an entirely new kind of legal tool: the Impaired Driving Protection Order (IDPO).

This isn’t just another law targeting DUI offenders; it’s a proactive approach aimed at saving lives and preventing harm before it happens. Advocates, including the bill’s sponsor Representative Lauren Davis, D-Des Moines, are calling it a potential game-changer in the fight against impaired driving.

.. The bill allows petitions for an IDPO to be filed by people close to the respondent — such as an intimate partner or family member — or even by law enforcement and prosecutors. Davis told lawmakers of a family member who has an alcohol substance abuse issue and knowingly drives drunk on highways and school zones.

https://mynorthwest.com/mynorthwest-politics/washington/4035481