Once a person's license has been punched, there is an affirmative duty to request a hearing within twenty (20) days from the Department of Licensing or that hearing is deemed waived. The hearing request must be accompanied by a $200.00 hearing fee or a request to waive that fee in cases of indigency.  By requesting the hearing, your driving privileges are protected until there is an actual hearing and a written order of suspension. This whole process can often take two to five months. By not requesting the hearing, the suspension will be set to take place automatically 60 days from arrest.

Once the DOL receives the request it will assign a hearing officer and set a hearing date.  You, or your attorney if you've hired one, will receive a copy of the police report. In some cases the hearing will be held within 60 days. In many cases, sometimes for scheduling purpose but often for strategic reasons, the initial hearing date is continued.  In cases of a continuance, the individual's temporary license will remain in effect for up to 150 days from the date of arrest or until the hearing officer reaches a decision. All hearing officers are very different in this regard. Some rule within days. Others take months.

IMPORTANT.  Be careful. The twenty day (20) notice requirement used to be thirty (30) days until it was changed by the Washington Legislature as on January 1, 2009.  Some of the old forms are still in existence. Our office has seen individuals provided this erroneous form by the officer who arrested them and even some DUI attorneys who should know better.  The bottom line is that if the 20 day requirement is missed, the DOL will likely blame you, not the officer or the mistaken attorney.