Drunk Driving Defense in Washington
Being arrested for a drunk driving offense or DUI, impacts a great many areas of a person’s life. Insurance rates increase dramatically. Your liberty may be at stake. Fines and court costs add up. You may end up with a suspended license, ignition interlock device, or home monitoring. In Washington, as in many other states, DUI laws have become stricter with each passing year. At the Terry Law Firm, we have been representing those with DUI and DWI charges for more than fifteen years and have found successful resolutions in hundreds of cases. In fact, if forced to go to trial with a DUI defense, we rarely lose. Although past results are no indication of future performance in your case, it makes sense to put your trust in experienced hands.
For your benefit, our DUI defense lawyer has provided you with the answers to some frequently asked questions about DUI offenses.
DWI / DUI means "driving while intoxicated" or "driving while under the influence" and refers to the crime of drunk driving. This crime usually includes driving while abusing drugs and the operation of other kinds of motorized vehicles, such as boats. There are a number of possible challenges or drunk driving defenses.
- What was the blood alcohol content (B.A.C. level) and can it be challenged or suppressed?
- Was the Breathalyzer properly calibrated? Can we challenge the breath test in Washington courts?
Under the United States Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.ED.2d 889, a police officer may stop a motorist where circumstance give rise to a "reasonable suspicion" that the motorist is involved in criminal activity. Where an officer stops a vehicle without reasonable suspicion, any evidence after the stop should be "suppressed" by the court.
Suppression of the DUI breath or blood test may lead the district attorney to dismiss your case or to settle on very desirable terms. Accordingly, getting evidence suppressed, if possible, is a number one priority in your drunk driving defense.
Changing Precedent for Traffic Stops
In this area of law, it is important to stay on top of the latest court challenges, and new judicial rulings. At our law office, we believe it is critical to stay current and keep on top of updates, and potential new ways to challenge a breath test in Washington. For example, a recent US Supreme Court decision regarding traffic stops and searches may have a significant impact on DUI stops.
In addition to challenging the breath test and other DUI defense actions on your behalf, our law office will also represent your case before the Department of Licensing to reinstate your driver’s license.
Helping you Face and Resolve your Problems
If you protect your driver’s license, and stay out of jail, we urge you to call or contact our Kent Washington law office to schedule an appointment for an initial consultation.
