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Covington DUI Lawyers

1. Hunter, Kim: An arrest for DUI is not a laughing matter. In this environment with the media, law enforcement and legislative emphasis on driving drunk, DUI is a very serious charge. The penalties and ramifications are getting worse every year in Washington State. But a DUI doesnÕt have to be devastating if you get the right legal defense. It is imperative to hire an attorney that you feel comfortable with; discussing every aspect of your case is crucial to obtaining a great resolution. When you hire a DUI attorney you want a lawyer who is not afraid of the courtroom and who will fight earnestly in your defense keeping you apprised of every step of the way. You need an attorney who treats your case as the most important one. A DUI Charge does not have to be Devastating IF You Get The Right Legal Defense. It is important to have an attorney that is accessible to you. Going through a DUI is a very stressful process and itÕs important that the attorney you hire is available to answer your questions and alleviate your fears. Expertise is important to be sure, but so is tenacity and passion and these are the qualities, coupled with years of DUI defense experience, that I provide as a DUI attorney. You will read that the best DUI attorneys deal exclusively with DUI. I disagreeÐ the basic tenants behind the defense of any criminal charge are something every criminal defense attorney should possess. Probable cause to stop and arrest, search and seizure and many other issues are found in every criminal defense charge; the more experience a lawyer has with criminal law in general, the better that attorney gets at spotting an issue that could be crucial for your defense. While DUI defense is technical in nature with regards to the breath tests, there still remains the basic defense of the rights you have as an individual charged with a crime. A thorough grasp of those principles is what defines a great criminal defense attorney. You may also read that a high fee is proof that you are getting the best defense. Again, I disagree. I do not believe that great criminal or DUI defense has to be outrageously expensive. The majority of individuals who receive DUIs cannot pay some of the high prices that are common in DUI defense, and as a result they may forgo having an attorney at all. This is not only a mistake, it is tragic that our society equates price with competence. The Stop Law Enforcement Officers in Washington State are trained to be on the look-out for impaired drivers at all hours, but particularly during the hours of 11 pm-3am. Bear in mind that officers will frequent areas with a high concentration of bars or restaurants, often positioning themselves directly across from these areas. King County is also known for the ÒEmphasis PatrolsÓ where law enforcement officer from several jurisdictions concentrate on one area. Officers look for driving that is erratic, too fast or too slow, weaving or reckless. They will also look for expired tabs, missing head or taillights, or defective equipment. All of these give the Officer what is call ÒProbable CauseÓ to stop and cite you for the infraction. Once stopped, the officer will look for the odor of alcohol, bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred speech and other physical manifestations of impairment. If any of these are present, the officer may detain you for investigation of a DUI. What happens when I am arrested for DUI? When you are arrested for a DUI you will be facing not only the Criminal Court process, but also the Department of Licensing administrative sanctions. I have broken these down into steps so that you may better understand the process. The Arrest It is always wise to be polite and cooperative with a Law Enforcement Officer; to do otherwise will just aggravate the circumstances of your arrest and will not in any way help your situation. Provide the Officer with your basic information; DriverÕs License, Insurance and Registration. Be polite, but Do Not Make Any Statements to the officer regardless of how he or she may try and persuade you. Simply tell the officer you are invoking your right to remain silent. You are NOT required to take the Field Sobriety Tests Ð they are completely voluntary although the officer may disguise this fact. Once the Law Enforcement Officer has decided to charge you with DUI, you will be arrested and taken to the nearest precinct with a Breathalyzer machine. IF you do not blow into this machine at the station, you face a license suspension of a year or more. Blowing into the machine is always the best action; you can fight the result later in Court. You will be given a citation by the officer, a copy of the breath test ticket, and the DOL hearing request form. In some instances you will be given a summons to appear in court. (Or this may be sent to you via the mail) The day following your arrest, you should What about your DriverÕs License?? The Department of Licensing will suspend your license when you receive a DUI. This action is administrative and separate from any criminal charge you may receive. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO SUBMIT YOUR DOL HEARING REQUEST FORM WITHIN 30 DAYS OF YOUR DUI STOP or ARREST. IF the Officer did not give you this paperwork, or if you have misplaced it, go to the DOL website : www.dol.wa.gov and print the hearing request form.