DUI DEFENSE



If you are charged with a DUI, or expect DUI charges to be filed against you, Dan can help. DUI is a serious offense that carries both administrative and criminal penalties. In order to understand these penalties, and the criminal process, you should consult an attorney. All of Dan’s DUI consultations are free. Through a consultation, Dan can discuss with you your situation and your options in defending against the DUI charges. The information discussed in a DUI consultation is confidential even if you choose not to retain Dan’s services.

A DUI case has several important phases. The DUI case begins on the night of the arrest and may conclude with a jury trial, a plea bargain to a lesser charge, an outright dismissal, a deferred prosecution, or a conviction. Whatever the final outcome, a person charged with DUI needs to understand the implications a DUI will have on their driving record, their job, their family, and their criminal history. In order to protect your rights, and to maximize your likeliness of an optimal outcome, you should contact an attorney immediately after you have been arrested for DUI.

UPDATE: If you have been convicted of DUI, or plead guilty to DUI or a crime that was originally charged as a DUI over the last seven years, you may be able to have your conviction overturned! The former Washington State Patrol crime lab manager resigned on July 20, 2007, amidst allegations that she falsely certified lab tests that relate directly to the validity of breath test results.

If you have a DUI conviction on your record, schedule a free consultation with Dan. You may have a legal basis to attack your judgment.

Filing of Charges

In most cases, once you have been processed for DUI, you will be released into the custody of a friend or relative. You may or not be required to post a bond prior to your release. Your license will be punched and you should be given notice regarding how to schedule a hearing to challenge forthcoming action against you by the Department of Licensing. The police report will be forwarded onto the Prosecuting Attorney’s office in the relevant jurisdiction. It may be days, weeks, or in some cases months, before the Prosecuting Attorney makes a charging decision. A summons to appear in court for arraignment will be sent to you if the Prosecuting Attorney decides to file charges against you. Also, it is possible that you will receive a notice to appear in court from the Officer on the night of the arrest. Be sure to look at all of your paperwork so that you do not miss a court date. You should consult an attorney before the first court date, commonly referred to as the arraignment. If you fail to appear at the arraignment a warrant can and probably will issue for your arrest.