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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.
DUI PROCESS
Jury Trial / Sentencing
DUI’s are tried before a six person jury. The court may also keep an alternate juror on the jury panel. DUI jury trials generally last one to three days depending on the complexity of the case and the number of witnesses.
If a jury finds you not guilty you will be released and your case will be forever dismissed. If the jury returns a verdict of guilty, then you will be sentenced by the judge. Sentencing may occur on the day of the verdict, or sentencing may be continued to a later date. Sentencing is an important part of the process. A good attorney will prepare very hard for this phase to ensure that the client gets the lightest and fairest sentence under the law. If the jury cannot reach a unanimous decision, a mistrial will be declared and the prosecutor may decide to retry the case.
