Victim Impact Panel

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At a Victim Impact Panel (VIP), you will hear powerful, personal stories from people whose lives have been affected by a DUI. Community members will share the realities of what impaired driving does to individuals, families, and communities.

  • All VIPs are in-person at the Whatcom County Courthouse Council Chambers at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. We do not currently offer virtual panels.
  • We host panels bi-monthly. See the VIP calendar for upcoming panel dates.
  • To receive a certificate of attendance, you must register and pay the registration fee before attending. (Fee: $50/adult, $20/minor)

Registering for a VIP

You must register and pay before attending a panel. Your registration is not complete until we receive your payment.  We do not provide on-site registration or payment collection at the panel. 

The cost is $50.00 for adults 18 and older and $20.00 for youth 17 and younger. We offer online, in-person, and by-phone registration.

  • Online Registration: Complete our online registration form. Whatcom County uses a third-party payment platform for online registrations.
  • In-person: Register at our Girard office (509 Girard Street, Bellingham) during business hours. We accept cash or debit/credit card payments. There is a small convenience fee for debit or credit card payments.
  • Phone Registration: Call 360-778-6002 during business hours.

We provide language interpretation services for a VIP. To request interpretation services, contact us at (360) 778-6002 at least one week before the panel.

Rescheduling/Refunding

Should you need to reschedule or receive a refund of your registration fee, contact us no later than 4 pm the day of the panel. You cannot receive a refund or reschedule after the panel has occurred. We can reschedule or refund if:

  • You need to reschedule for a different date.
  • You no longer have a court order to attend.
  • You attend a panel in a different county.

Certificate of Attendance

To receive an attendance certificate, you must pay and register before attending.

  • The deadline for online registration and payment is 11:59pm the day before the panel.
  • The deadline for in-person or phone registration and payment is 3pm the day of the panel.
  • You must bring photo ID to the panel.

You will receive your attendance certificate at the end of the panel. You are responsible for providing your certificate to your attorney, probation officer, or court official.

What to Expect

We created the Victim Impact Panel to reduce future injuries and fatalities that result from impaired driving. At each panel, 2 to 3 panelists share personal stories about the emotional, social, and financial effects of impaired driving.

Guests and the general public are welcome to attend the panel free of charge. Some materials may not be suitable for children under 12.

Interested in Being a Panelist

We are always seeking new panelists. Panelists share personal stories about the impact of impaired driving. This includes direct and indirect impacts such as direct injury or the loss or injury of a loved one. The purpose of the panel is to:

  • Show how impaired driving has affected lives.
  • Help others personalize the consequences of impaired driving. 

If you want to volunteer as a panelist or learn more, contact the panel coordinator at [email protected].