Should I request a DOL hearing?
Yes. Failure to do so within 20 days of arrest will result in an automatic suspension of your license for a period of 90 days to two years.
I was not given any information about requesting a hearing. What should I do?
In general, the arresting officer will provide you with a hearing request application. Sometimes they forget. Regardless, the onus will be on you to request a hearing. If you were not given a form, follow this link.
What happens if I don’t request a hearing?
Assuming the arresting officer filed his report of arrest with the DOL, your license will be suspended from 90 days to two years starting 60 days after the date you were arrested.
What if I intended to request a hearing but missed the deadline or simply forgot?
The DOL is generally unsympathetic to the reasons a person may have missed the deadline to request an administrative hearing and usually the suspension will be ordered. Occasionally, if the deadline is only missed by a day or so, the DOL may agree to honor the hearing request so long as the individual waives the right to a hearing within 60 days from the date of arrest. A special request would need to be made of the Director of Hearings and Interviews but such requests are not normally granted.
The officer punched a hole in my license. Does that mean my license is automatically suspended?
When the arresting officer punches your license, it signifies that you either submitted a breath sample above the .08 legal limit or he believes that you refused the breath test. It means that you have a temporary license valid for 60 days from the date of arrest. It does not mean that the license is automatically suspended. So long as you request the hearing in a timely fashion, your license will remain valid until there is a ruling or up to 150 days from the date of arrest.
What does it mean if a hole was not punched in my license?
It means one of three things. One, that at least one of your two breath samples was below the legal limit. Two, you hold an out of state driver’s license that the officer does not have the authority to deface. Three, he forgot to punch if the first two don’t apply.
What happens at a DOL hearing?
An employee of the State of Washington makes a determination whether or not your license should be suspended. Go here for a complete discussion on this issue.
What is an ignition interlock license?
An ignition interlock license (IIL) is a special license provided by the DOL that allows one who has had his license suspended to drive during the period of suspension. The DOL requires that the driver show proof that his vehicle was equipped with an ignition interlock device and that he has acquired SR-22 insurance. Click here for a more complete discussion.
I have a CDL? Are there any special concerns?
YES. Go here for a complete discussion on this very important issue for those who hold a CDL.
