Drunk driving defense is a specialized area, and shouldn’t be entrusted to an amateur. The experienced attorneys of 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com will provide a free consultation and outline a proven defense strategy designed to minimize or even eliminate the consequences of a Washington driving under the influence arrest.

Washington drunk driving cases are most commonly referred to as DUI – driving under the influence – or DWI – driving while intoxicated. Regardless of what it’s called, a drinking and driving offense is a serious charge that can have life-changing consequences for the driver.

A Washington DUI / DWI arrest actually triggers two separate cases – in court, and at the DMV. Both cases require expert legal help, but the DMV case is extremely time-sensitive. Motorists accused of drunk driving in Washington have only 30 days from the date of arrest to request a DMV hearing, or risk the automatic suspension of their driver’s licenses.

Washington does have a "per se" law, which is another way of saying that the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 percent. Any driver with a BAC of .08 percent or greater will be charged with DUI / DWI.

Under Washington’s implied consent law, everyone who drives in the state agrees to take a chemical test to determine BAC if arrested for drunk driving. Refusal to submit to a chemical test can be used as evidence of consciousness of guilt in court, and also result in harsher penalties.

It’s important to note that the Seattle Municipal Court has special rules, and demands special attention. Seattle Municipal Court one of the busiest courts in Washington, and has many unique policies and procedures related to DUI arrests. It’s important to note that while many courts take up to a month or more to file a drunk driving case, that’s not true in Seattle. A driver arrested for DUI will be required to appear in Court within 48 hours of the next business day after the arrest.

In most courts, prosecutors do not attempt to increase bail at the first court appearance. However, Seattle prosecutors usually request substantial bail and pretrial release conditions on all DUI cases. These conditions may include mandatory attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, the immediate installation of ignition interlock devices, and abstinence from all alcohol.

Often, accused drunk drivers who appear in Seattle Municipal Court without adequate legal representation find themselves taken to jail immediately until they can post bail. Every accused DUI driver should know that personal checks or credit cards are NOT accepted to pay for bail.

The number of prior DUI / DWI convictions on a driver’s record will affect the way a current arrest is charged and punished. Washington has a seven-year “washout” period for drinking and driving offenses, meaning that if the driver has a prior conviction that occurred more than seven years prior to the current offense, his or her arrest will be treated as a first-time DUI. If an arrest occurs less than seven years after a prior offense, the driver will be treated as a multiple offender.

The punishment meted out after a Washington drinking and driving conviction can be severe. A first-offense driver with a BAC of less than .15 percent faces one day to one year in jail or 15 days of house arrest. The driver also faces a $823 to $5,000 fine, a 90-day license suspension, an SR-22 proof of insurance requirement, probation, alcohol evaluation and treatment, and the possibility of an ignition interlock device.

A first-offense DUI driver with a BAC of .15 percent or greater, or who refused to take a chemical test, faces two days to one year in jail or 30 days of house arrest, a $1,078 to $5,000 fine, a one-year license revocation, an SR-22 proof of insurance requirement, probation, alcohol evaluation and treatment, and the requirement of an ignition interlock device.

A driver convicted of a second-offense DUI / DWI who had a BAC of less than .15 percent faces 30 days to one year in jail plus two months of house arrest, a $1,078 to $5,000 fine, a two-year license revocation, an SR-22 proof of insurance requirement, probation, alcohol evaluation and treatment, and the requirement of an ignition interlock device.

A second-offense drunk driver who refused a chemical test or had a BAC of .15 percent or greater faces 45 days to one year in jail plus three months of house arrest, a $1,503 to $5,000 fine, a 900-day license revocation, an SR-22 proof of insurance requirement, probation, alcohol evaluation and treatment, and the requirement of an ignition interlock device.

A motorist with a BAC of less than .15 percent with two prior drinking and driving convictions within the past seven years faces three months to one year in jail plus four months of house arrest, a $1,928 to $5,000 fine, a three year license revocation, an SR-22 proof of insurance requirement, probation, alcohol evaluation and treatment, and the requirement of an ignition interlock device.

A third-time drunk driver with a BAC of .15 percent or greater, or who refused a chemical test, faces four months to one year in jail plus five months of house arrest, a $2,778 to $5,000 fine, a four-year license revocation, an SR-22 proof of insurance requirement, probation, alcohol evaluation and treatment, and the requirement of an ignition interlock device.

In addition to the criminal penalties imposed for a Washington DUI / DWI conviction, an accused driver also faces separate repercussions at the DMV. A motorist accused of first-time drunk driving faces a 90-day license suspension. If the driver refused a chemical test, he or she faces a one-year license revocation. A driver facing a second administrative action within seven years faces a two-year license revocation.

The consequences of a Washington drunk driving arrest and conviction are severe, but may be avoided by aggressively fighting the charges with the help of an experienced defense lawyer. The skilled local attorneys of 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com will provide a free consultation and outline an aggressive defense strategy designed to protect the driver’s rights and lessen the repercussions of a Washington DUI / DWI arrest.

DISCLAIMER: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.