华盛顿州允许私人实验室测试酒驾案件, 以清除16,700个案例的积压,解决延误和公共安全风险. Washington state allows private labs to test DUI cases to clear a 16,700-case backlog, addressing delays and public safety risks.

华盛顿州的新法律允许认可的私人实验室进行酒后驾驶毒理学测试,旨在减少16,700多起案件的积压, 这些案例导致延期长达两年 - -超过该州为期两年的法定限制. A new Washington state law allows accredited private labs to conduct DUI toxicology tests, aiming to reduce a growing backlog of over 16,700 cases that had caused delays of up to two years—exceeding the state’s two-year statute of limitations. 这一举动由州长勃·弗格森签署, 解决了自2014年以来测试请求的59%激增,超过人员数量的增加. The move, signed by Governor Bob Ferguson, addresses a 59% surge in testing requests since 2014 outpacing staffing growth. 州政府已拨款300万美元, 用于雇佣工作人员和升级设备. The state has allocated $3 million to hire staff and upgrade equipment, with some funds carrying over. 虽然地方政府必须与私人实验室签订合同, 并可能向国家补偿费用, 但仍存在对成本和需要实验员工在法庭上作证的担忧. While local governments must contract with private labs and may reimburse the state, concerns remain over costs and the need for lab personnel to testify in court. 由于2024年737起交通事故中近一半涉及驾驶员有障碍,这使得这一问题变得更加紧迫. The issue has gained urgency as nearly half of 2024’s 737 traffic fatalities involved impaired drivers, highlighting public safety risks. 通过参议院, 但在众议院停滞不前. Efforts to lower the blood-alcohol limit from 0.08% to 0.05% passed the Senate but stalled in the House.