SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – The ongoing DUI case of John Emory Lassey, a Spokane Valley resident accused of hitting a child while driving drunk in his neighborhood, has brought attention to a significant statewide issue: a backlog in DUI blood test results.
In the fall, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) mentioned potential improvements in delays as early as this month. As of September, wait times for alcohol-only test results were around 14 months. Now, they have reduced to about 12 months. However, the industry standard for such tests is 60 days.
Annie Wasilewski, counsel for John Emory Lassey, expressed concerns about the lengthy wait times…