DUI Lawyer Everett

A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction fin Washington state can be costly. Court costs, penalty fees, and time missed from work could negatively affect your life. Not to mention all of the retributions that must be paid for a DUI arrest. That’s why DUI defense professionals believe you should hire a DUI attorney to combat the Snohomish County DUI charges you face. 

Everett Court DUI Criminal Conviction

If this is your first DUI, your sentence could largely depend on your blood alcohol content (BAC) exam. If you’re convicted, you could spend up to a year in jail and lose your license for over a year. Everett, WA Department of Licensing takes DUI DWI legal matters seriously, and the DUI process often leads to driver’s license suspensions. 

If this is your second or third DUI court appearance, you face much more severe punishments. Fortunately, you can fight a DUI charge, just like you fight a speeding ticket. Since it’s not easy, DUI criminal law experts recommend building a strong defense with an experienced attorney.

Your King County DUI law firm can analyze the facts of your case and look for errors made by the police. They also can gather documents and advocate on your behalf. Sit down with Weber Law, your DUI attorneys in Everett, WA, King County, Snohomish County, and the Western Washington communities.  

Everett, WA DUI Charges

If you’re charged with a DUI, the charge can be a misdemeanor or a felony. The classification of your DUI will depend on your criminal history. Both charges can negatively impact your life. When you face criminal charges, it’s best to contact a criminal defense lawyer. 

Washington DUI Penalties

Washington State DUI penalties are severe.  Consult with an experienced DUI attorney promptly after an arrest to protect your rights and ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines. If a conviction is made, there are mandatory minimum sentences, which a judge is required to impose and cannot reduce.

Steps To Take After A DUI Arrest

One of the best things you can do to build a strong DUI defense is to remain silent when the police stop you. DUI defense specialists agree that you should continue to remain silent after the police arrest you. According to your Miranda rights, anything you say can and will be used against you. 

If the police ask you questions, you have the right to say, “I don’t want to answer.” The more you admit, the harder it will be for your WA DUI attorney to establish your criminal defense. Once arrested, inform the police that you would like to speak to your Everett DUI lawyer as soon as possible. 

Once you get a chance, write down any memories of your arrest. This information can be very useful to your DUI attorney. The elements of your arrest will go far in getting your DUI cases reduced or dismissed; however, there are no guarantees. 

DUI DWI Court

Once you receive notice of your Everett Municipal Court, Snohomish County Court, or Washington State Courts in the mail or from a Washington State Patrol officer, speak with a WA DUI lawyer for a free consultation. The time you spend at this free consultation could save your driving privileges and criminal records, and protect your DUI defense. 

At your arraignment, it’s imperative to plead “not guilty” to the DUI. The judge will then consider whether or not you will receive bail. As a condition of your release, the city prosecutor may request that you wear an ankle monitor or use an ignition interlock device on your car.

If you suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, or a mental condition that resulted in your DUI offense, you can completely avoid a DUI conviction and almost all the DUI conviction punishments. Ask your Everett DUI professional to petition the Snohomish County Court for a DUI Deferred Prosecution before trial.

Why You Shouldn’t Plead Guilty

Many drunk driving offenders accept a plea bargain or plead guilty after being charged with a DUI. Although it may appear easier to plead guilty and move on with your life, this could be harmful. 

DUI convictions may lead to one of the following:

• Expensive fees and fines
• Mandatory jail time
• Restricted travel
• License suspension/revocation

Some DUI convictions have affected those who plead guilty hastily from getting a job or even leasing an apartment. Take the advice of a former prosecutor and the Washington State Department, and hire an Everett WA DUI lawyer for guidance. A WA DUI Attorney is standing by in Snohomish County and Everett, WA community for a free consultation. 

Securing Everett DUI Lawyers 

Scheduling consultations with a few Everett, WA attorneys can help you find the one you’re looking for. Everett DUI professionals suggest when scheduling a consultation, ask their price and what you should bring to your consultation. Generally, an attorney will want to see your bail papers, criminal citation, and other criminal history records.

Here are a few great places to find a WA DUI attorney:

• Get a referral from someone you know
• Check the yellow pages for a Snohomish county attorney practicing DUI defense
• If you already have another type of attorney, a family law professional, for example, ask them to refer you to criminal defense lawyers in your Everett, WA community. 
• The Snohomish County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service you could check.  Check the Washington State Bar Association website for links to a DUI law office in each WA county. 
• Public defenders can represent those who don’t have the money to pay a lawyer. Whether or not you qualify will depend on your Everett, WA DUI arrest circumstances and financial data. 

If you’ve found a few law offices you’re interested in visiting, look them up on the National Lawyer Rating Services. Be sure you research the law office before deciding on one of their DUI attorneys. 

The lawyer’s website is also a great place to find information about their DUI or criminal law experience. The client review website can also tell you what past Everett DUI defendants feel about their experience with potential DUI attorneys. 

Also, an expert tip is to check your DUI attorney’s disciplinary history by visiting the Washington State Bar Association’s Discipline Notice Search. Always look for attorneys with experience with Washington State Department Licensing DUI hearings, jury trials, and local to the Snohomish County area. 

Before Hiring An Everett WA DUI Lawyer

Before you hire a DUI attorney, sit down with them and ask them to analyze your case. If the lawyer asks appropriate questions that help you to examine your case and decide on the best course of action, then you should consider working with them. 

DUI attorney could request the following information when analyzing your DUI case: 

• Prior DUI convictions or other criminal convictions, and when they occurred.
• Your professional licensure and whether a DUI conviction may impact it
• The evidence necessary to build a strong DUI defense 

Everett WA DUI Lawyer Costs

DUI lawyers can charge anywhere between $2,500 and $25,000, depending on the case’s complexity and whether they’re working by the hour. It’s important to know what’s included in your payment arrangement before deciding on that attorney. 

This is a good time to ask if the WA DUI attorney charges by the hour if they offer fixed-fee agreements? You’ll also want to know who exactly will be working on your case and if they offer alternative payment arrangements. 

Hiring An Everett DUI Pro

The Washington Department of State recommends hiring a lawyer when you’re involved in any type of criminal case. Once you’ve spoken with a few lawyers and found one with favorable terms and a temperament that makes you feel seen and comfortable, then hire them. If you don’t feel comfortable with the first attorney, then consider other referrals.

When Should You Consider A Plea Bargain

Ideally, you and your legal team want to beat the DUI charge. However,  there’s no harm in discussing the possibility of a plea deal with your lawyer. If this is your first DUI and the evidence against you is robust, you may benefit from taking a plea deal. It’s imperative that you talk it over with your lawyer because this could lead to a license suspension and more. 

Washington DUI Laws

DUI laws, from the perspective of Washington lawmakers, were written to punish the guilty and protect the innocent. If you’ve been arrested on a drunk driving charge, defending yourself could be a bad idea unless you possess a thorough understanding of these complex DUI laws. 

Driving Under the Influence, or DUI, is charged to persons who operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or more. Their BAC can be found via breath or blood test. Refusing to take a BAC test usually leads to arrest and could lead to more severe penalties.

Washington DUI laws established a range of penalties that are applied when a person is convicted, depending on the severity of the offense. The following charges may also lead to a driver’s license suspension or worse:

Physical Control Violation

A Physical Control Violation is a non-driving DUI. A person can be charged with this Everett WA DUI offense if an officer determines they were in physical control of the vehicle. Washington DUI law states that you can be charged whether you are discovered in the passenger seat, back seat, or even outside of the automobile.

Minor DUI Offenses

A Minor DUI is an offense committed by licensed drivers under the age of 21 who are caught operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or more. Other DUI offenses include reckless driving, negligent driving, marijuana DUI, and street racing. 

The penalties that are associated with these offenses are severe, so speak with DUI attorneys in your community if you’re facing Everett, WA DUI charges. Your Everett WA DUI attorney can help you keep your license from being revoked by the Washington State Department of Licensing. 

Snohomish County DUI Defense

One of the best ways to defend against a DUI conviction is by identifying if your stop was legal or illegal. Your case could get thrown out of court if you can prove the officer illegally stopped you. According to the law, police must have a “reasonable suspicion” that you have committed a crime before stopping you. 

Casting doubt on a field sobriety test can also help you fight a DUI conviction. Sobriety tests are unreliable, and other factors may lead to failed sobriety tests. The weather conditions, your footwear, lack of condition, or lack of coordination could be valid reasons for a failed sobriety test. 

Since Washington prosecutors fear you will drink and drive again, they push for harsh penalties. If you can demonstrate that you don’t have a problem with alcohol or drugs by getting an alcohol evaluation done at a treatment agency, it could help your case. They may even offer classes and treatment programs that can help your claim as well. 

If there are any videos from dashboard cams or CCTV that demonstrate that you were functioning normally, this could assist your DUI defense. If the police car or booking room has videos, your DUI attorney can help you secure them for your defense. 

Everett DUI Attorneys

Weber Law’s Everett drunk driving attorneys have decades of legal experience handling DUI cases in Snohomish County. Our Everett DUI lawyers understand that a DUI conviction can be detrimental to your way of life. 

Retaining the services of Everett drunk driving attorneys starts at your first free DUI case evaluation. This free consultation is a risk-free way to gather information about your DUI case and ask us any questions you have.

Ideally, having one of Weber Law’s experienced private attorneys at your arraignment and throughout your Everett Municipal Court DUI prosecution may improve your chances. Weber Law handles Minor DUI, Alcohol DUI, Drunk DUI, and Marijuana DUI cases in Everett and the surrounding Washington community. 

We also provide criminal law protection against domestic violence, traffic, and other alleged criminal violations. Sit down with one of our criminal law professionals immediately.