Maple Valley Lawyer

• Washington DUI/DWI Penalties

Driving under the influence (DUI) refers to operating a motor vehicle while affected by alcohol, drugs, or both. This applies to both legal and illegal drugs, including prescription medication and over-the-counter drugs.

How is DUI/DWI determined?

If DUI is suspected, the amount of alcohol in the driver’s blood is measured by a breath or blood test. The driver will be cited for DUI if the results are:

• .08 or higher for adults.
• .02 or higher for minors (under 21).

What can I expect if I am stopped for DUI/DWI?

If you are stopped for suspected DUI, the law enforcement officer may:

• ask if you have consumed any alcohol or drug-related substances.
• ask you to take a field sobriety test.
• ask you to submit to a breath test. If your blood alcohol content is .08 or higher, you may be cited and taken to jail. You also may request to have a blood test.

What if I refuse to take the breath or blood test?

If you refuse to take the test, your license will be revoked. When you operate a motor vehicle in Washington State, you automatically give consent to have your breath or blood tested if a law enforcement officer believes you have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Will my driver license be suspended immediately after I’m stopped for DUI/DWI?

No. The amount of time until the suspension takes effect depends on the type of offense.

How long will my license be suspended?

Your license may be suspended from 90 days to 4 years, based on prior offenses and your blood alcohol level.

The penalties for a Washington DUI conviction range from the jail and fines to the relatively obscure (limits on freedom to travel within and outside of the country and immigration issues. These potential penalties, along with the potential of having a DUI on your record, represent the reason most people lose sleep upon being arrested for a DUI.

Apart from the immediate DUI penalties upon conviction, the biggest long term impact is the fact of the conviciton itself. A DUI conviction can not be expunged from one's record, meaning that it will always be there. It will be there for purposes of adding substantial penalties to possible future DUIs. It will be there to affect future employment prospects, or for criminal background checks. But it does not have to be. A DUI charge can be beaten.

The most important thing is never lie about anything! It will only damage your credibility when you go to court. If you feel the officer's questions are becoming overbearing or accusatory or their tone of voice or behavior becomes intimidating, ask to speak to a lawyer, and do not make any further statements until you have had the opportunity to do so. This is your legal right.

If you are stopped by a police officer and he or she asks you if you've been drinking, what should you say?

You are not required to answer potentially incriminating questions. A polite "I would like to speak with a lawyer before I answer any questions" is a good reply. On the other hand, if the truth is that you consumed two beers or a glass of wine over the past few hours, that kind of admission will not hurt you and may explain the odor of alcohol.

Contesting or appealing a license suspension

If you are arrested for DUI, you may request a hearing within 20 days of the arrest.

 WHAT WILL IT COST YOU?

It is my objective to be competitively affordable for most of  my prospective clients - in every County. I  price my services at the average price range and offer payment plans and different forms of payments (All major Credit Cards/Checks/Debit Cards). 

 The humiliation and stress that accompany a DUI or other serious driving charges can be very overwhelming. Fear of a conviction and the  consequences on one's personal and profesional life, can be devastating.

I offer a 30 minute free consultation and my legal service starts with a resonable retainer.

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Five steps in the DUI process:

• DUI arrest
• Arraignment
• Pre-Trial
• Motions/Evidentiary Hearings
• Trial

What issues will be considered at a DUI hearing?

During your DUI hearing, the hearing officer will consider:

• Whether you were lawfully placed under arrest.
• Whether the officer had reasonable grounds to believe any of the following:
• You were driving or were in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• You were under the age of 21 years and were driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol.
• Whether you were advised of the Implied Consent Warnings.
• Whether you refused the breath or blood test.
• Whether the breath or blood test exceeded the legal limits:
• Whether the breath or blood test was administered according to the law and Washington State Toxicologist Rules

Cities Served

Auburn, Algona, Milton, Edgewood, Des Moines, Covington, Black Diamond, Renton, Normandy Park, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac,Seattle, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Issaquah, Kent, Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, Shoreline, Kenmore, Bothell, Woodinville, Edmonds, Brier, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, Snohomish, Monroe, Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Preston, Everett, Fife, Puyallup, Federal Way, Pacific, Enumclaw, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Roy, Tacoma, Lakewood and Wilkenson

Serving Seattle Metro area and all of King County and Pierce County.

Zip Codes include:

98055,98056, 98057, 98058, 98059, 98030, 98031, 98032, 98042, 98038, 98040, 98045, 98168, 98188, 98103, 98115

Call Attorney Frank LaBare

 If you have been arrested for DUI

You have the right to consult with a lawyer

253-239-3178 

24/7

Let me help you keep it off your driving record and keep your insurance costs down.