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Vancouver DUI Lawyers

1. Spencer & Sundstrom: There are specific rules that the police are required to follow in the course of conducting a DUI investigation. If the officer oversteps his or her authority at any point, it could constitute a violation of your rights and provide the opportunity to have evidence suppressed or the charges dismissed.
2. Montecucco, Bill: Just about everyone has gotten a speeding ticket. Traffic infractions in Clark County, Washington and Multnomah County, Oregon are handled for a flat fee, depending on where the ticket was received.
3. Marsh, Higgins, Beaty and Hatch: Being charged with a DUI offense typically involves two hurdles. It is a criminal charge filed by a prosecutor and, at the same time, the Department of Licensing for Washington State and the Department of Motor Vehicles for Oregon State, revokes the driver's license. When facing a serious offense, such as a DUI, it is therefore important to hire experienced legal representation immediately to efficiently fight both cases.
4. Greenen & Greenen: felonies, misdemeanors, driving offenses, drug charges and domestic violence
5. Bennett, Robert: Don’t simply forfeit your legal rights without having your case properly reviewed and analyzed by an experienced Vancouver DUI attorney. Washington’s drunk driving laws are tough. Even if this is your first offense, if you are convicted of a charge of DUI here in Vancouver or elsewhere in Clark County, you are facing serious mandatory consequences. A good Vancouver DUI lawyer can help minimize these consequences. It is important, however, to act quickly and try and find an experienced Vancouver DUI attorney as soon as possible. The clock on your driving privileges starts ticking the day after you are arrested with the Department of Licensing. If you do not properly challenge your Washington State Department of Licensing Suspension within 20 days of your arrest, your driving privileges will almost certainly be suspended for a period of at least 90 days to one year, even if this is your first offense. I can assist you in ensuring that your request is proper and timely.
6. Evansen, Magie: CRIMINAL LAW Felonies Misdemeanors Drug/Controlled Substance Offenses Sex Offenses Domestic Violence Assault Theft Burglary DUI/Traffic/License Juvenile Offenses
7. Green & Ritchie: he Consequences of a DUI/DWI Conviction Some of the consequences of a DUI/DWI conviction are obvious. Your driver's license may be suspended and you may face jail time or large fines. Some of the costs of a conviction for drinking and driving are hidden. They include the thousands of dollars that you may have to spend on an ignition interlock system, alcohol treatment classes, increased insurance rates and more. Defending Your Driver's License If you are accused of DUI/DWI, you will actually have two different cases. The first is the driver's license suspension hearing. This is a civil proceeding handled by the Department of Licensing. Our lawyers are available to stand by your side in these hearings. We will put our experience to work to help you keep your driver's license. Defending Against Criminal Charges The second case is the actual criminal DUI/DWI case. The criminal court system handles this phase.
8. Morse Bratt Andrews & Foster: If you are caught driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit of .08, the State of Washington has the right to impose fines, suspend your driving privileges and even send you to jail.
9. Weber, Gunn: Convictions for major traffic violations, such as DUI or driving while suspended, can cost you thousands of dollars in fines and increased insurance premiums. Your driversÕ license could also be suspended for a long time. As the system gets tougher on people accused of these charges, you could also end up spending time in jail.
10. Schile, Gregg: # DUI and traffic offenses # Domestic violence - assault and no contact order cases # Property crimes - burglary, theft, forgery, id theft, etc. # Major felonies - murder, sex offenses, kidnapping
11. Mayhew, James: DUI/DWI × Drug Crimes × Domestic Violence × Juvenile Crimes Many people charged with serious crimes feel scared or intimidated as they face the Washington criminal justice system. Police officers and prosecutors are not on your side Ñ you need an aggressive, experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer to be your advocate.
12. Ramsay, Christopher: The State of Washington has placed DUI prosecution and conviction on a high priority status. The penalties for DUI conviction in Washington reflect how serious this crime is taken. However, as a citizen, you have important rights that must be protected in the balance. Do not assume that because you have been charged with a DUI that the prosecutor will drop the charge if it is your first offense and that you have an otherwise clean record. Although every DUI case is different, and past performance is no guarantee or promise of result in any other case, Mr. Ramsay has obtained a complete dismissal of all criminal charges in various DUI cases, including: * Second offense DUI with an accident and .225 BAC dismissed based on illegal police entry into defendant's home prior to arrest. * DUI when the BAC is under the legal limit of 0.08 * DUI with a 0.11 BAC dismissed based on illegal investigatory stop of the defendant's vehicle. * DUI dismissed when the prosecution failed to provide evidence to the defense in a timely matter. If you have been charged with a DUI, you face the criminal justice system and the Washington Department of Licensing. Don't do it alone.
13. Nicole Dalton: If I get stopped by police while driving, what should I do? Every situation is different, but the following information is intended to serve as a general guideline when faced with a possible DUI accusation. You are legally required to stop for police and provide them with proof of your license, registration, and insurance. Unfortunately, many law enforcement officers stop people for minor traffic infractions and then turn it into a DUI accusation. Officers need to have sufficient legal justification to arrest a person for DUI. To justify a DUI arrest, police must try to obtain evidence. You have a legal right to refuse to help law enforcement officers obtain some of the evidence they can use to convict you. If stopped for a traffic matter, you should have your license, registration, and insurance documentation within easy reach and ready when the officer arrives at the car. One technique officers use to look for evidence of driving under the influence is to immediately ask drivers whether they have had anything to drink. You have no obligation to answer an officerÕs questions about alcohol consumption . Lying to an officer can be charged as a crime, but if asked, you may politely respond with a question such as, Òdid I do something wrong, officer?Ó If the officer continues to question you about alcohol or about where you have been or where you are going, you may respond politely with statements such as, ÒI would like to just be on my way, officer. É Are you going to give me my ticket now? É Please just give me my ticket.Ó If the officer continues to press for information or asks you to step out of the car, you can tell him or her, in no uncertain terms, ÒI want to call my lawyer.Ó Call your lawyer if you need to do so and if you are able. Although the officer may be unhappy with this response, it lets the officer know that he or she needs to stop questioning you. A traffic ticket issued by an angry officer is normally a better result than a DUI arrest. If you are arrested anyway, it is usually easier for a lawyer to defend a case where the accused has not made any incriminating statements or voluntarily given any evidence that could prove guilt. You are not legally required to participate in any field sobriety tests. The officer might make it sound like a command, not a request, but Washington law does not require drivers to submit to sobriety tests on scene. You have the right to refuse field sobriety tests . Be polite and refuse to do the walk and turn, the one leg stand, the gaze test, the portable breath test, or any other tests the officer asks you to perform at the roadside. If you are arrested and brought to a police station, however, it may be a good idea to provide the breath sample there. Washington law imposes serious consequences for refusing to blow at the station . Law enforcement officers must explain your right to refuse and the consequences of refusing that breath test. Can I be charged with DUI if I have not had any alcohol? Yes. Police can arrest people for driving under the influence of illegal drugs and even for driving under the influence of prescription medications. But, just like the previous question and answer illustrate, you donÕt have to help the police get evidence against you. You are not required to offer any information about any consumption of controlled substances or do any field sobriety tests. What are the consequences of pleading guilty or being convicted of a DUI? Aside from the personal suffering and possible impact on your career, there are many consequences of a DUI conviction. The following are just some of the possible legal consequences of being convicted of driving under the influence RCW 46.61.5055. For DUI offenses charged as a gross misdemeanor, Washington State imposes minimum mandatory jail sentences for convictions, lasting from one day to 120 or more days in jail, plus up to 150 additional days of electronic home monitoring. Under the statute, a DUI conviction in Washington can result in suspension or revocation of your license from 90 days to four years. To reinstate a driving privilege after a DUI-related suspension, the Department of Licensing may require the driver to install an ignition interlock device in the vehicle for between one and ten years. DUI convictions also carry a heavy economic impact on people convicted of this crime. In addition to fines of up to $5,000, with minimum fines starting at more than $850 plus additional court costs and assessments, substantial additional costs are associated with electronic home monitoring, installing and renting ignition interlock devices, and mandatory alcohol assessment, treatment, supervision and other requirements. Can a DUI charge turn into a felony conviction? Yes. For persons with four or more offenses within a ten year period, Washington law turns a DUI conviction into a felony. Convicted felons face serious consequences including loss of civil rights and discrimination in employment and housing. A felony conviction can cause loss of voting rights, restrictions on your ability to travel to other countries, and loss of the right to possess or own firearms. Can a DUI conviction be removed from my criminal record? No. In Washington, the laws that permit vacating and sealing criminal records do not allow DUI convictions to be vacated and sealed. However, a lesser charge offered by the prosecution or obtained by your attorney in the process of plea bargaining may qualify at a later date to be vacated and sealed from the public eye. DonÕt you have to drink a whole lot of alcohol to be over the legal limit? No. First of all, you could be prosecuted for DUI even if you test under the .08 legal limit. In addition to allowing conviction of persons who blow a .08 or more in a valid test, Washington law also allows DUI convictions based on evidence that a person was driving and affected by alcohol. The Washington State Liquor Control Board publishes a Blood Alcohol Concentration Guide. Unfortunately, this guide cannot account for individual metabolic variation, health issues, or other factors that may result in individual variation. For some people, even one glass of wine could put them over the legal limit or serve as a basis for prosecution due to the effects of alcohol on the driver. Also, criminal convictions of misdemeanor Negligent Driving in the First Degree can be obtained based on evidence that the driver has driven negligently, in a manner that could endanger persons or property, and shows the effects of having consumed liquor, an illegal drug, or a prescription drug not in accordance with prescribed warnings and directions. Washington State is considered one of the toughest states on drinking and driving. Because a DUI conviction can have life-changing consequences, getting legal advice regarding a DUI charge can be one of the best things youÕll ever do to protect and take care of yourself. Make sure you know what your options are and that you choose your best option - with your eyes open and a tough defender at your side.
14. Wood & Calheim: When you are arrested for a crime, time is of the essence. It is crucial to hire the right attorney to defend your rights early in the process. Call a law firm that has devoted years to providing exceptional criminal defense services.
15. Harlan Law Firm: DUI/DUII: Driving Under the Influence of intoxicants is one of the most common criminal allegations defended by the Harlan Law Firm. According to the law in the State of Oregon and Washington, it is unlawful for any person to drive while their ability to drive is appreciably affected by alcohol or while their blood alcohol level is in excess of .08. DUI is a crime that cuts across all social and economic barriers.
16. John Lutgens: ÊThe consequences of a DUI /DWI conviction can have profound impact including mandatory jail time, suspension or revocation of your privilege to drive, mandated substance abuse evaluation and treatment, significant fines and high risk insurance premiums. In many instances the consequences of a DUI/DWI conviction can be as great or greater than a felony conviction.
17. Matthew Hoff:

    Criminal & Administrative Defense of Your Case

    It is important to keep in mind that fighting a DUI typically has two completely different aspects; the criminal court system and the Washington Department of Licensing hearings. Each of them requires knowledge of complex legal arguments that only an experienced DUI lawyer can provide. Either organization can have your driver’s license suspended, even if you are successful in dealing with the other one. This makes it critical to have an attorney who can represent you on both fronts.

    When you are charged with DUI, you need an attorney who keeps up with changes in this constantly developing area of practice, who is experienced in the proper methodology to handle complex questions of DUI law related to:

    1. Probable Cause for Police Stop
    2. Probable Cause to Arrest
    3. Properly Conducted Field Sobriety Tests
    4. Challenging BAC Readings
    5. Refusal to Blow
    6. Deferred Prosecution
    7. Reduction of Charges
    8. Sentencing Guidelines

    You should never plead guilty to DUI before contacting an attorney to discuss your options.

18. Mark Muenster: The first and most important step following your DUI arrest is to ensure that you have received and mailed a request for a hearing within the Department of Licensing. That request must be postmarked and sent within 30 days after the arrest.ÊIf you failÊto perform that simple function, you are giving up your right to an administrative hearing and will have your license suspended prior to any criminal action.
19. Wheeler, Montgomery, Sleight & Boyd: If you have been charged with a crime, the toll can be overwhelming. From fines, loss of employment, trials, and potential jail sentences; criminal cases are among the most emotionally overwhelming situations for a person to bear. Without expert representation, the effects of criminal prosecution or a criminal record can have long term consequences. The fact is, having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side from the early stages of a criminal case can often make a big difference in the ultimate outcome. Too many attorneys handle criminal cases only rarely, and are still practicing 20th century trial techniques in front of 21st century juries.
20. Jon J. McMullen: A DUI conviction can result in jail time as well as the loss of your driverÍs license, substantial fines, increased insurance rates, losing your ability to drive as part of your work and sometimes loss of employment. Your rights are of no value unless they are zealously guarded by an experienced DUI attorney. Jon J McMullen has defended hundreds of DUI cases and will create a defense tailor made to your individual case. Being arrested for drunk driving does not have to be a devastating experience and many DUI cases can be successfully defended.æ
21. Christopher Ramsey: The State of Washington has placed DUI prosecution and conviction on a high priority status. The penalties for DUI conviction in Washington reflect how serious this crime is taken. However, as a citizen, you have important rights that must be protected in the balance. Do not assume that because you have been charged with a DUI that the prosecutor will drop the charge it is your first offense and that you have an otherwise clean record. If you have been charged with a DUI, you are going to fight a two-headed dragon consisting of the criminal justice system and the Washington Department of Licensing. Don't do it alone.
22. Byrd Legal Services: Drunk Driving If you are arrested for driving while intoxicated in Washington, your driverÕs license could be administratively suspended by the Department of Licensing for 90 days in addition to any other criminal penalties that the court could order. It is important that you contact an experienced Vancouver DUI lawyer immediately after your arrest to improve your chances for a desirable resolution of your case.
23. Jon McMullen: A DUI conviction can result in jail time as well as the loss of your driverÕs license, substantial fines, increased insurance rates, losing your ability to drive as part of your work and sometimes loss of employment. Your rights are of no value unless they are zealously guarded by an experienced DUI attorney. Being arrested for drunk driving does not have to be a devastating experience and many DUI cases can be successfully defended. 
24. Greg Schlile: If you have been charged with a crime, you need an experienced lawyer to defend your rights.
25. Matthew Philbrook: If you have been charged with drunk driving, it is imperative that you have an attorney who focuses his practice on these matters. In Clark County, DUI defense attorneys must be aware of specific issues when analyzing facts and building a defense.
26. Morse & Bratt: A Serious Charge Needs A Serious Defense!
27. Steven Thayer: If a defendant does not request a hearing within 15 days from the date of either an alleged breath/blood test refusal or an alleged breath/blood test failure, ones driver's license is automatically suspended even if the case is not subsequently prosecuted (if proper notice of suspension was given to the defendant).
28. Hicks & Meyer:
    1. You should take the breathalyzer test. Anyone who has been issued a drivers license by the State of Washington has, by accepting that license, implied consent to take the test. If you do not take the test, your license can be revoked for a minimum of one year for that reason alone.
    2. You should refuse to take any field sobriety tests. If the police are investigating you for DUI they have likely already decided that you should be arrested. By performing field sobriety tests all that you will do is help them to build a case against you. You are not required to take these tests.
    3. Immediately request to talk with an attorney. If you do not know the phone number of an attorney, most police stations have the phone number of attorneys who are on-call 24 hours a day. Request the opportunity to talk with one of these attorneys before doing anything.
    4. You should provide police officers with proper identification, automobile registration and proof of insurance.
    5. You are not required to give police officers detailed information about your activities. The more information you provide to police officers, the more you are likely to incriminate yourself. Keep conversation to a minimum.
    6. Always be polite. Address the officer as "Sir" or "Ma'am". If you refuse to comply with a request, decline politely but be firm in your decision. Do not be swayed; if you have made a decision stick to it. You will not be in less trouble by answering all questions and taking field sobriety tests.