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Whatcom County committee questions jail use for driving with suspended license, failure-to-transfer-title arrests
Summary
Whatcom County legal and justice committee met July 8 to examine prosecutions for driving with a suspended license in the third degree and related failure-to-transfer-title arrests, with members raising concerns that those charges are contributing to jail bookings when they are attached to other offenses.
Whatcom Countyon July 8 discussed whether driving with a suspended license in the third degree should be prosecuted as a criminal offense and how related charges, such as failure to transfer title, are contributing to jail bookings.
The conversation focused on two linked concerns: members said stand-alone DWS third-degree charges are frequently dismissed at arraignment but become consequential when paired with other charges, and that failure-to-transfer-title citations tied to routine traffic stops can lead to arrests and custody. "We're just digging deeper financial holes for folks with the prosecution of the DWS thirds," Maya said after surveying district court attorneys, summarizing responses that stand-alone DWS thirds are often dismissed…
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