OLYMPIA – A driver guilty of a fourth driving under the influence charge could face prison time for a felony conviction under a bill that passed the Senate unanimously on Wednesday.

For the third time this year, the Senate approved Spokane Valley Republican Mike Padden’s proposal to strengthen the state’s DUI law, which now only allows a felony charge for the fifth offense. Statistics Padden quoted from Mothers Against Drunk Driving showed that of the 46 states that allow felony charges for drunk or drugged driving, only Washington waits until a fifth offense to charge the driver with a felony.

"This legislation is long overdue," Padden said. "Probably we should be lower; we should be at three" for a felony charge.

The bill now goes to the House, which failed to pass it during the regular and first special session, requiring the bill to return to the Senate for reapproval.

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