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Bremerton DUI Lawyers

1. Glisson, Witt & Altman: Driving under the influence penalties in Washington are some of the toughest, as well as most complicated, in the nation. Any DUI conviction, even if you have no criminal history at all, carries mandatory jail time, nearly a thousand dollars in fines and court costs, and other non-negotiable penalties. It carries five years of probation and court-supervised drug or alcohol treatment. If convicted, you will be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device in your car and may be restricted to your home for a period of time with an electronic home monitoring device if you are found guilty. Anyone accused of DUI is subject to losing their license for at least 90 days, and must carry expensive high risk insurance for three years. If you have been convicted of DUI, or been granted a deferred prosecution in the last seven years, a DUI charge carries at least 30 days in jail. A prior DUI arrest counts against you even if it was ultimately reduced to a lesser offense, like Negligent or Reckless Driving. In some cases, it counts against you even it was dismissed. The law in Washington allows a driver to be charged with DUI if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is higher than .08. But a driver can also be charged with DUI if they refuse to submit to a test to determine their BAC. Washington law even allows a driver to be charged with DUI when their BAC is less than .08 if the police believe that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or any drug, even drugs for which the driver has a prescription. In Washington, the Department of Licensing suspends the driverŐs license of any driver who is arrested for DUI and has a BAC > .08, or who refuses to submit to a BAC test. This is entirely separate from what happens in the criminal action. Even if you are not charged in court with DUI, you will still lose your license if you donŐt act quickly. You will lose your right to challenge the suspension if you donŐt act within 20 days of the incident. Suspensions / revocations can range from 90 days to 4 years for a DUI arrest, even if a jury finds you not guilty. Keep in mind you are not alone. In 2008, there were over 38,000 DUI arrests in the State of Washington, not including drug related arrests. According to the state patrol, one of the top ten establishments listed in the entire state by arrested drivers as their starting point is in Kitsap County. In 2006, a Kitsap County establishment was the source of more DUI arrests than any other in the state. In 2009 alone, Kitsap prosecutors were referred more than 1,400 DUI cases. A skilled, experienced attorney is familiar with dozens of challenges to every stage of DUI prosecution. Was the original stop based on valid probable cause? Were constitutional safeguards regarding search, seizure, and arrest observed during the police investigation? Was the BAC test administered according to the procedures mandated by the Washington Administrative Code? Any failure by police to follow the letter of the law weakens the prosecution case, and provides the accused a legal defense and important negotiation leverage. Who represents you in a DUI case is one of the most important decisions you will make. When selecting an attorney for a DUI or any other criminal charges, choose carefully. Your attorney should be someone you can trust, someone you can talk toŃbut someone who is willing and able to fight to protect you in court, and in the DOL hearing to preserve or return your driverŐs license. A poorly handled case can cost thousands of dollars in fines and fees. MSN Money magazine estimated the average cost of a DUI conviction at over $10,000, and that was about three years ago. A good lawyer can often save you more than their fees. Conditions on your release are determined at your first court appearance. The judge can require you install an ignition interlock, be on electronic home monitoring, or have to post bail or go to jail. You should have an attorney with you from the first minute you appear in front of the judge. At Glisson, Witt & Altman, our attorneys are professional, aggressive , and committed to helping you. We will fight to protect your rights, and make sure you get the fair treatment that you deserve in the complex world of DUI defense. We set reasonable, affordable fees with the goal of getting you back on the road and moving on with your life as quickly and painlessly as possible. DonŐt go to court alone and unprepared! Talk to an attorney before you appear in front of a judge.
2. Tom Weaver: Most people focus on the short-term consequences of a drunk driving (DUI or DWI) conviction. As a first time DUI offender, you likely will face minimal jail time (usually 1 or 2 days) and a fine of about $1,000. However, the long-term consequences are even more serious. You face the suspension of your drivers license for at least 90 days (two years on your second offense), driving with an ignition interlock device placed on your car, as well as paying for high risk insurance (SR-22) for the next three years. If this is your second or subsequent offense, the short-term consequences can be much more severe.
3. Glisson & Witt: Driving under the influence penalties in Washington are some of the toughest, as well as most complicated, in the nation. Any DUI conviction, even if you have no criminal history, carries mandatory jail and mandatory fines. It also requires five years of probation and court-ordered drug or alcohol treatment. You may be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device in your car or to be restricted to your home for a period of time with an electronic home monitoring device. The law in Washington allows a driver to be charged with DUI if their blood alcohol content is higher than .08. A driver can also be charged with DUI if they refuse to submit to a test to determine their BAC. The law allows a driver to be criminally charged even when their BAC is less than .08 if there is competent evidence that the driver was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug. In Washington, the Department of Licensing suspends the drivers license of any driver who is arrested for DUI and has a blood alcohol content (BAC) > .08, or who refuses to submit to a BAC test. This is entirely separate from what happens in the criminal action. Even if you are not charged with DUI, you may still lose your license. You must act quickly. Often you lose your right to challenge the suspension if you dont act within 30 days of the arrest. When selecting an attorney for a DUI or any other criminal charges, choose carefully. Your attorney should be someone you can trust, someone you can talk tobut someone who is willing to fight to protect you in court.