I Was Charged With a DUI, What Are My Options?

DUI Lawyers in Washington

Getting stopped by a police officer and receiving a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge in Washington has the potential to seriously affect your daily life. Consequences can include a fine, jail time, the suspension of your driver’s license, treatment, and ignition interlock in your car. DUI charges can also be quite stressful and overwhelming. Understanding what consequences of a DUI charge is critical, and our skillful DUI Lawyers in Washington will help you navigate the legal process and assist you in understanding your options in this difficult time. The defenses for DUIs tend to be technical in nature, which require detailed knowledge and experience. This is why it’s important to hire an attorney with that knowledge and experience, which our DUI attorneys have.

What do DUI cases look like?

DUI cases can be quite complex and often have a lot of moving parts. such as additional charges or collateral consequences. A personal criminal background, prior DUI history, or out of state convictions can play a major role in the outcome of the case. Common charges that often coincide with DUI charges could include Hit & Run, Reckless Driving, Reckless endangerment, and eluding the police. A DUI conviction may have negative consequences on your future. The Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer understands these various issues and do our very best to ensure the best possible outcome for your situation.

Supervised release violations

When released from jail on a DUI, the court will often place conditions on your release pending the outcome of your case. This may include sobriety or alcohol monitoring or check-ins with a supervised released officer. If you fail to abide by these conditions, the court can revoke your release and force you to go back into custody, making your case harder to resolve. This can often be the case on DUIs or other such cases that involve substance use disorders as the draw to use those substances can be strong. Unfortunately, often, the resolution of your case can also be better depending on your ability to do treatment and how amenable one is to it.

Probation violations and DUI Lawyers in Washington

If convicted of a DUI, you will have probation for several years afterwards. The court will place certain conditions and guidelines for you to follow over a certain period and if you fail to follow those conditions, such as treatment, meetings, good conduct, no new law violations, or other such conditions; it will result in additional punishment. If you have already been convicted of a prior DUI and are charged with a new DUI, the new probation violation will often trigger a mandatory 30-day sentence, depending on the conduct alleged. This is another example of how DUI cases can get very complicated very quickly so having our experienced attorneys at the Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer will be incredibly beneficial to the outcome of your case.

What can we do for you?

The first step our attorneys will take is gathering the necessary information and evidence that is helpful to your case. These documents generally include the police reports, witness statements, breathalyzer results, blood tests, and probable cause statements. Our attorneys will carefully examine all the evidence and documents provided to set up the best possible defense for your circumstance.

We can also help you navigate through the complex minefield of collateral requirements and consequences, which includes the evaluation and treatment process, SR22 insurance, ignition interlock requirement, license suspension, CDL license impact, victim impact panel, and a potential reduction in fines and fees.

Your license may also be restricted when you receive a DUI by the Department of Licensing which has its own set of laws regarding DUIs. The Department of Licensing has its own set process regarding the reinstatement of your license, and our lawyers will not only help with your defense but also with getting your ability to drive back as well taking the necessary precautions and connecting you with the resources you need.

Our attorneys will take all necessary steps to continue to build the defense aiming for the best possible outcome. One of the ways we do this is by challenging the validity of the evidence brought against you in court. We may challenge the validity of the stop itself, challenging the validity of the breath test machine, and/or challenging the validity of the field sobriety test as well. Negotiating with the prosecuting attorney will also be a step we take in order to bring the charges down.

Don’t hesitate. Contact us now to see what we can do for you at the Law Office of Erin Bradley McAleer.