duistatelaws.com Key takeaways
- Tacoma Municipal Court lists driving under the influence and physical control among the criminal-traffic cases it hears.
- Its bail rule releases a person held on a gross misdemeanor on $1,000; the rule does not name DUI, which state law makes a gross misdemeanor.
- A deferred prosecution petition, with its assessment and treatment plan, is due two court days before the hearing, on the court’s forms.
- A readiness hearing about 20 days before a jury trial is one the defendant must attend unless excused.
- An attorney from the Department of Assigned Counsel is present at every arraignment.
- 7 days and $375 to request the license hearing.
from the date you were served with the notice to demand a hearing from Washington State Department of Licensing. The request goes to the department, not to the court, and no judge in Pierce County will make it for you. RCW 46.20.308(7).
Tacoma Municipal Court describes itself as a court of limited jurisdiction for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases under City of Tacoma ordinances, and names driving under the influence, physical control and reckless driving as its criminal-traffic cases. Its courtrooms are on the first and second floors of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave. S., and its clerk’s counter is in Room 841.
Tacoma’s court has also written its own procedural rules. The local rules adopted effective March 30, 2026 state that the other provisions of the Pierce County District Court local rules do not apply to it. This page follows a DUI through those rules. The state penalties, the seven-year window and deferred prosecution itself are on the Washington DUI law page.
The same diagram as a table
| Step | Criminal case — decided by a court | License case — decided by a state agency |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrest and booking, hour 0 | Notice of suspension served, day 0 |
| 2 | Charge filed by the prosecutor | Deadline to demand a hearing: 7 to 30 days in the eight states on this site that use an agency hearing |
| 3 | First court setting, on a date the court picks | Hearing held if the request was filed — whether the suspension waits for the ruling is set by each state's statute |
| 4 | One or more pretrial settings | Suspension takes effect automatically with no hearing |
| 5 | Trial, plea or dismissal | — |
| Clock | Weeks to months. No filing deadline runs against the driver. | Counted in days from the notice, and fixed by statute. |
Where a Tacoma DUI is heard
Tacoma Municipal Court’s counter is in Room 841 on the 8th floor of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave. S., open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm; the courtrooms are on the first and second floors, and monitors in those lobbies list the day’s hearings and rooms. Telephone service at 253-591-5357 runs from 8:30am to noon and 1pm to 4pm.
Tacoma Municipal Court
- Hears
- Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors under City of Tacoma ordinances, including DUI and physical control
- Building
- County-City Building: clerk’s counter in Room 841, courtrooms on floors 1 and 2
- Address
- 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, WA 98402
- Detail
- Counter service Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm; telephone 8:30am to noon and 1pm to 4pm
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
- Phone
- 253-591-5357
- Why it matters
- An attorney from the Department of Assigned Counsel is present at all arraignment hearings.
The court states that an attorney from the Department of Assigned Counsel is present at all arraignment hearings. A defendant who cannot afford a lawyer must ask for a public defender at the arraignment, and the judge decides eligibility.
The court lists the rights of anyone accused of an offense that carries jail: a lawyer at every hearing, appointed at public expense if needed; a public, speedy jury trial; and an appeal to the Superior Court if convicted after a not-guilty plea. A jury in Tacoma Municipal Court is a panel of up to six. A guilty plea waives the right to appeal.
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Custody, bail and the license
Bail. Local rule TMCLCR 3.2.1 sets a schedule under the state criminal rules: a person held in jail after arrest is released on posting $500 for a misdemeanor or $1,000 for a gross misdemeanor. The rule holds domestic violence cases, and five named offenses — fourth degree assault, harassment, violating an anti-harassment order, stalking, and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes — without bail until the next court day. The rule does not mention DUI. Under RCW 46.61.502(5) a DUI is a gross misdemeanor unless the felony provision applies, and it is not on the non-bailable list — but a court can also set release conditions such as a pretrial interlock, which RCW 46.20.720(1)(a) refers to, so the figure to rely on is the one the court sets.
Release without jail. The court notes that a person arrested for a criminal traffic offense may or may not be booked, and on release may be given a citation with a court date or be mailed a summons, which requires an appearance. Failing to appear can bring a bench warrant and, for a criminal traffic charge, a license suspension by the Department of Licensing. Local rule TMCLCR 3.4.3 lists four ways to address a warrant: set a quash hearing in person at the clerk’s office or by email, have your attorney file a motion to quash, post the full cash bail or bond, or turn yourself in at the Pierce County Jail.
The license. Separately, the arrest notice gives a thirty-day temporary license and a 7-day window to request a hearing from the department, with a $375 fee. The Municipal Court does not handle that request.
| What happened | First time | After a prior administrative action in 7 years | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test at 0.08 or more | 90 days, unless in a pretrial 24/7 sobriety program | 2 years | RCW 46.20.3101(2) |
| Refused the test | 1 year | 2 years, or to age 21 if longer | RCW 46.20.3101(1) |
The rules that shape a Tacoma DUI case
Deferred prosecution. Rule TMCLCR 4.2.1 requires petitions under chapter 10.05 RCW to be made on the court’s own deferred prosecution forms, with the assessment and treatment plan attached, and filed no later than two court days before the hearing. The state statute adds its own deadline: at least seven days before the trial date. The Washington page explains what a deferred prosecution requires and why it still counts as a prior offense.
Suppression motions. Rule 3.6.1 requires a motion to suppress physical, oral or identification evidence to be in writing, supported by a sworn statement of the facts expected at the hearing, and served at least 14 days before the hearing is requested; the other side has seven days to respond. If no facts are disputed, the court decides whether an evidentiary hearing is needed, and says why on the record if it is not.
Readiness hearing. Rule 4.5.1 schedules a readiness hearing in every case going to a jury unless the court waives it for good cause, usually during the week about 20 days before trial. The defendant must attend unless excused; missing it may bring a bench warrant or forfeiture of bond, and both sides must confirm their witnesses there.
Bail after a Tacoma arrest
From local rule TMCLCR 3.2.1, which the court ratified and adopted effective March 30, 2026.
| If you are | County | Under TMCLCR 3.2.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Held after arrest on a misdemeanor | Pierce | Released on $500 bail under the court's schedule |
| Held after arrest on a gross misdemeanor | Pierce | Released on $1,000 bail, unless the offense is on the non-bailable list |
| Domestic violence, fourth-degree assault, harassment and three others | Pierce | Held without bail until the next court day |
The rule does not name DUI. A DUI is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 46.61.502(5) and is not on the non-bailable list, but a court can also set release conditions such as a pretrial interlock under RCW 10.21.055, which RCW 46.20.720(1)(a) refers to. Confirm with the court.
Beyond its regular calendar, the court launched two therapeutic courts in 2023: a Behavioral Health Court for community members with serious, persistent mental health diagnoses, and a Community Court for people whose unmet needs — which the court says may include housing, substance use disorder, minor mental health conditions or unemployment — led to court involvement. The court states that participants who complete either program have their charges dismissed; its pages do not say whether a DUI charge is eligible. The other Washington page on this site is Seattle.
Common questions about Tacoma DUI cases
Where is Tacoma Municipal Court?
In the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, WA 98402: the courtrooms are on the first and second floors, and the clerk's counter is in Room 841 on the 8th floor, open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm; telephone 253-591-5357.
What is bail for a DUI in Tacoma?
Tacoma Municipal Court local rule TMCLCR 3.2.1 sets $1,000 bail for a person held after arrest on a gross misdemeanor, and a DUI is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 46.61.502(5). The rule does not name DUI, and a court can add release conditions, so confirm with the court.
When is a deferred prosecution petition due in Tacoma?
Tacoma's rule TMCLCR 4.2.1 requires it on the court's forms, with the assessment and treatment plan, no later than two court days before the hearing. State law separately requires filing at least seven days before trial.
Will I get a public defender at my Tacoma arraignment?
An attorney from the Department of Assigned Counsel is present at all arraignment hearings. You must ask for a public defender at the arraignment, and the judge decides whether you are eligible.
How many jurors hear a DUI trial in Tacoma Municipal Court?
The court states that a jury panel is up to six citizens from the community.
How long do I have to request a DOL hearing?
Seven days after the notice is given, in writing, with a $375 fee. The request goes to the Washington State Department of Licensing, not to Tacoma Municipal Court.
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More for Washington
- Washington DUI law — the full penalty matrix, the statutes, and the rules on priors and interlock
- Seattle and King County — the same state, a different courthouse problem
- Bellevue and King County — the same state, a different courthouse problem
- Bellingham and Whatcom County — the same state, a different courthouse problem
- Refusing a breathalyzer — what implied consent costs here against what it buys
- How long it stays on your record — three records, three clocks
- SR-22 insurance after a Washington suspension — what the filing certifies and how long it runs
- Ignition interlock providers and costs in Washington — what the device costs and who installs it
Sources
- City of Tacoma, Municipal Court — read September 30, 2026
- City of Tacoma, Municipal Court, criminal offenses — read September 30, 2026
- City of Tacoma, Municipal Court, court dates and hearings — read September 30, 2026
- City of Tacoma, Municipal Court, therapeutic courts — read September 30, 2026
- Tacoma Municipal Court local rules, adopted effective March 30, 2026 (PDF) — read September 30, 2026
- RCW 46.61.502, Washington State Legislature — read September 30, 2026
- RCW 46.20.720, ignition interlock restriction, Washington State Legislature — read September 30, 2026
- RCW 10.05.010, deferred prosecution, Washington State Legislature — read September 30, 2026
- RCW 46.61.502(1)(a) and the rest of the Washington statutes cited on this page — read in force 2026
Court addresses, hours and phone numbers were read from each court’s or office’s own published page on September 30, 2026. Those change without notice; confirm before you rely on them. No judge is named anywhere on this page, because a roster is exactly the kind of detail that goes stale silently.