Effective January 1, 2019, drivers arrested for DUI in Washington state must request a DOL hearing within seven (7) days of arrest.

Drive safe!

Snohomish County task force targets DUIs on Thanksgiving eve

Washington state passes law requiring notification of domestic violence victims when people who have lost gun rights due to DV conviction try to buy a firearm.

Washington passes law making fourth DUI conviction in ten years a felony. The law, effective in 90 days, elevates felony DUIs to class B felonies. Class B felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as well as loss of civil rights including firearms rights. A typical sentence for a person convicted under the statute with four prior DUIs would be 22-29 months in prison.

Check out our new information about felonies and violent crimes in Snohomish County:

https://www.wadefense.com/felonies-and-violent-crimes

If you have been arrested for DUI and your record shows a “prior offense,” judges in Washington must require you to install ignition interlock on any vehicle you drive.  A “prior offense” is any charge that was originally charged as DUI, even if that charge was reduced to reckless or negligent driving.  This condition will be ordered as a condition of your release at arraignment, which is typically your first appearance in court.  Other mandatory conditions of release also apply.  Whether or not you have a prior offense, you should consult an attorney prior to arraignment so you can be prepared to address conditions of release.

Rules for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of marijuana in Washington will change with the passing of marijuana initiative 502.  The law adopts a new per-se limit for marijuana impaired driving in Washington.  These changes, and the proposed new limit, are controversial and will be the subject of much future debate and litigation.  Stay tuned:

https://www.wadefense.com/criminal-defense/marijuana

After a motions hearing in Redmond last week, the Judge granted our motion to suppress all evidence following the stop of my client’s vehicle, finding that the officer lacked probable cause to stop.  The officer stopped the vehicle for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.  Washington law requires that a driver either change lanes or slow, if practicable, when passing an officer/trooper with lights activated on the side of the road.  In this case, the officer testified truthfully that the client was traveling under the posted speed limit and he could not remember the traffic conditions at the time my client passed him while he was impounding a vehicle.  The court found that the officer lacked probable cause to stop the vehicle and suppressed all evidence following the stop.  The prosecutor then moved to dismiss the DUI charge against my client.

The South, Evergreen, and Cascade Divisions of Snohomish County District Court are closed today due to the snow.  If you have a court date scheduled today in those three divisions, the court will mail you out a new date.  The Everett Division is open.  Enjoy the snow!

January 18, 2012:  Cascade and Evergreen Divisons of Snohomish County District Courts are CLOSED today due to the snow.  If you have a court date today in either of those divisions, the court will mail you notice of a new date.  The other divisions (South and Everett) remain open today, as of 7:30am.  Enjoy the snow!