State v. Vasquez

— Collateral estoppel precludes relitigation of an issue already decided. The doctrine reflects our legal system’s emphasis on finality. State v. Barnes, 85 Wn. App. 638, 652-53, 932 P.2d 669 (1997). Here, a Department of licensing hearing officer concluded that a Quincy police sergeant did not have probable cause to stop Ramiro Vasquez for speeding. Mr. Vasquez was charged with driving while under the influence and possession of cocaine *313after the officer searched him incident to the arrest.

The primary question before us is whether the Department of Licensing hearing officer’s conclusion that…