New Year’s Day may feel like a quiet holiday, but it’s a major enforcement day for the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, Ellensburg Police, Cle Elum PD, and Washington State Patrol.
Common reasons for January 1 arrests:
- Driving home in the early hours after midnight
- “Morning after” impairment (still over the limit from the night before)
- Fatigue or hangover symptoms mistaken for sobriety
- Driving with suspended licenses from previous DUI charges
🚨 Pulled Over for DUI on New Year’s Day? What to Do
If you’re stopped in Kittitas County for suspected DUI:
✅ Be Polite and Calm
- Provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance
- Avoid sudden movements or hostility
🚫 Don’t Admit Drinking
- Politely decline to answer questions like “How much did you have?”
- Say: “I’d like to speak with a lawyer before answering questions”
✅ Know Your Rights About Testing
- You may decline field sobriety tests — they are not mandatory
- Breath test refusal at the station triggers license consequences
- You can ask to speak with a lawyer before deciding
⚖️ What Happens After a New Year’s DUI Arrest?
If arrested in Kittitas County, you’ll likely:
- Be booked into Kittitas County Jail or cited and released
- Receive a court date at Kittitas County District Court
- Face:
- Possible license suspension (via DOL and the courts)
- Jail time, fines, probation, or ignition interlock
- Long-term insurance and employment impacts
⏰ Is Court Open on New Year’s Day?
No. January 1 is a court holiday in Washington, so if you’re arrested:
- Your arraignment or initial hearing will be scheduled for the next business day
- Don’t wait — start speaking with an attorney before court resumes
💡 Other New Year’s Day Legal Risks
In addition to DUI, police commonly deal with:
- Public intoxication
- Assaults from NYE altercations
- Reckless driving
- Noise or fireworks violations (especially in Roslyn)
Even if you weren’t arrested during the party, you could be cited the next day for incidents reported overnight.
📞 Arrested in Kittitas County on New Year’s Day?
The new year should be about fresh starts — not felony records.
📞 Call Blanford Law at 253‑720‑9304
📧 Email ken@blanfordlaw.com
We defend clients facing DUI and criminal charges in Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, and throughout Kittitas County.
Additional Resources
- State v. Edgar: DUI Evidence Suppression in Washington
This case explores whether a defendant’s post-arrest silence can be used against them in a Washington DUI trial. - Are Pretextual Traffic Stops Legal in Washington?
Learn when a traffic stop crosses the line into an unlawful search under Washington law. - Bellevue v. Redlack: Double Jeopardy and DUI in Washington
A deep dive into whether two prosecutions arising from the same DUI stop violate double jeopardy protections. - State v. O’Neal: Reckless Endangerment and Legal Interpretation
This case examines what it takes to prove reckless endangerment under Washington criminal statutes. - DUI in Washington State: An Overview
Get a comprehensive look at DUI laws, penalties, and defense strategies in Washington.