DUI/DWI Defense

Spokane, Washington, DUI/DWI Defense Attorneys

Washington has some of the most severe penalties for DUI/DWI in the nation. DUI (driving under the influence) is a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of one year in jail, a $5,000 fine or both. As of July 1, 2007, anyone convicted of four or more DUIs over a ten year period faces a felony charge. There are also mandatory minimum sentences, which a judge cannot reduce. At the law firm of Andersen Staab P.L.L.C. in Spokane, Washington, we offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case and your options.

The penalties have been getting consistently more severe since about 1995, when the state decided to change its DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge to a DUI charge with a penalty scale. The most recent changes occurred in July of 2007 and have further heightened the personal and financial costs of a drunk driving arrest.

Being charged with or convicted of a DUI or Physical Control can carry serious consequences for you and your family, including the following:

• Jail time
• Mandatory home monitoring
• Fine
• Probation
• Driver's license suspension
• Limitation of driving privileges
• Insurance - dropped coverage
• Insurance - raised rates
• Mandatory interlock ignition device
• Alcohol or drug treatment

DUI and Physical Control laws are strictly enforced in Spokane and eastern Washington. The current legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 for adults and .02 for minors. However, you can be charged with DUI even if you are below these limits if the state or city can show you were "affected" by alcohol, drugs or both. You can also be convicted of "physical control," even if you aren't driving the vehicle at the time of your arrest. The penalties for "physical control" are just as severe as DUI.

If your blood or breath test was .15 or higher, or if you refused the test, the penalties are increasingly harsh. The DUI/DWI penalties chart also has different levels for a first, second, third offense and more.

If you test .08 or higher on your breath test in Washington state, you face an administrative suspension of your driver's license by the Department of Licensing (DOL) even if you are found not guilty of DUI. You can improve your chances of stopping this suspension by contacting an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible after your arrest. A hearing may be requested to contest this administrative suspension.

These are the issues most clients who come to our law firm face after being charged with DUI. There are important defenses to DUI and Physical Control that you need to raise that may apply to your case. While our attorney can't promise to keep you out of jail or stop your driver's license from being suspended, we will do everything we can to accomplish these goals.

Free attorney consultation: To discuss your DWI/DUI case with a lawyer at our firm, call 509-327-6100 or fill out our simple contact form.