Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, is celebrating the passage of Senate Bill 5880, a bipartisan bill aimed at resolving the massive backlog of DUI toxicology tests that has slowed investigations and accountability across Washington.
The Washington State Patrol toxicology lab is currently facing a backlog of roughly 16,000 cases, with DUI test results taking anywhere from 10 months to two years to come back, which, on the longer end, can cause cases to be dismissed.
The long turnaround for tests creates a recipe for tragedy as dangerous drivers are not held accountable and remain behind the wheel.
That delayed accountability has already led to deadly consequences close to home. In Mason County, troopers suspected a driver was high on drugs after a crash in Belfair in January 2024 and took a blood sample. During the roughly year and a half it took to get the results, that same driver crossed into oncoming traffic near Gig Harbor and struck and killed a motorcyclist.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Griffey said. “And when it comes to impaired driving, delays can cost lives. For years, we’ve watched DUI cases stall while evidence sits in line waiting to be tested. In some cases, repeat offenders are still out driving while prosecutors wait for results. That’s not acceptable.”
Senate Bill 5880 allows local jurisdictions to use accredited laboratories to help run DUI blood and breath tests that can be used in court.
“This is just common sense,” Griffey said. “If qualified labs can help get these tests done faster, we should use them to get evidence back quickly so prosecutors can do their job, and dangerous drivers are held accountable.”
Lawmakers have also approved more than $4 million in funding during the current budget cycle to help expand toxicology testing capacity by adding staff, equipment, and the ability to send some samples for testing.
Griffey said the funding will help but warned the state must stay focused on public safety and continue tackling the backlog.
“This bill is a step in the right direction,” Griffey said. “But the state must stop shortchanging public safety. We can’t have critical evidence sitting in a lab for years while dangerous drivers remain on the road.”
Griffey said the backlog is especially severe for complex drug and poly-substance DUI cases, which take longer to analyze and will take time to work through even with additional help.
“Our communities deserve a justice system that actually delivers justice,” Griffey said. “When lives are on the line, ‘wait and see’ won’t cut it. We must hold impaired drivers accountable to ensure that a DUI doesn’t turn into a tragedy for another Washington family.”