In Washington State DUI cases there isn’t just one criminal penalty a person can face, and the penalties suffered can actually be increased if the person convicted of DUI has prior DUI/ DUI related convictions. A first-time DUI offender whose blood-alcohol concentration is deemed to be at least 0.08 faces the following, if convicted of the alleged crime: at least one day in jail; fines in the thousands (not hundreds) of dollars; the hassle of going through an alcohol and/or drug assessment conducted by a state certified treatment provider; a driver’s license suspension of at least ninety days; imposition of steep auto insurance rate increases; the requirement of attending a DUI victim’s panel; and the requirement of driving only vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device for a period of one year.
Regardless of the prospect of being hammered with punishment, a person charged with a DUI in Washington State should have faith and not despair over their fate. Every DUI case can, and should, be defended. Sometimes breath tests are determined to be inadmissible, inaccurate, invalid or even unreliable. Scientists have shown that breath test machines can be thrown off by circumstances that range from what a person has eaten to how law enforcement administered the test. If you or a loved one is charged with a Washington DUI, don’t simply “plead guilty”. Seek the legal
advice of a qualified Seattle DUI attorney. A savvy Seattle DUI lawyer will fill you in on all of your legal options, and will assess the best way to protect your interests and minimize the potential legal consequences of a DUI conviction. The Seattle DUI attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified Seattle DUI lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those charged with DUI in and around Western Washington. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the DUI allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible.
If accused of a DUI in Western Washington or anywhere in the Greater Puget Sound region, protect your rights - contact SQ Attorneys, (206) 293-9590; (425) 998-8384 - it will be the best decision you make all day.