Dui Lawyer Spokane
“Spokane Dui Charges Require Immediate Damage Control–The Next Steps You Take Are Vital To The Outcome Of Your Spokane Dui!”
hink Of This As Your Spokane Dui Survival Guide. We’re going to take you through all of the vital Spokane Dui Information so you can understand and survive in the Spokane Court System. Here are the general topics for your Spokane Dui Survival Guide:
- Problem—Understanding Your Spokane Dui
- Spokane Dui Court Process
- Finding A Dui Lawyer In Spokane
- What Should A Spokane Dui Lawyer Do For Me?
- Spokane Dui Legal Costs: “Flat Fees and Payment Plans”
“If You Want To Survive Your Dui In Spokane, Then You Better Read Every Word!”
Before you can solve a problem you have to first understand it! We also suggest that you know something about your dui charge so you can choose the right Spokane Dui Attorney. Let us warn you that not all Spokane Criminal Defense Attorneys are the same. Dare I say that some might even try to dazzle you with B.S. We don’t like that! It gives all attorneys a bad name.
Let me take this quick opportunity to introduce ourselves. We are local Spokane Attorneys and our firm is called Action Legal Group. We are highly rated and we take a no B.S. approach. Forget about who we are for now. We want you to go through all of these steps so you can survive your Spokane Dui.
Action Legal Group’s Lawyers Are Rated As “Superb” and “Excellent” By AVVO.com.
Call Now For Your Free Hour Right Now! 509-362-9540
Understanding Your Spokane Dui: A.K.A. Your Legal Problem!
We’re really talking about understanding the potential risks you are facing. Let’s talk about the minimums and the maximums. Washington Dui Laws have minimum mandatory sentences. There are basically two factors that you must be aware of: (1) Your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC); and (2) Any Prior Dui Charges within 7 seven years of each other. Here is a basic chart:
| No Prior Dui Charges BAC Less Than .15 (1A Dui) | No Prior Dui Charges BAC Greater Than .15 or BAC Refusal (1B Dui) | 1 Prior Dui Charges Within 7 Years BAC Less Than .15 (2A Dui) | 1 Prior Dui Charges Within 7 Years BAC Greater Than .15 or BAC Refusal (2B Dui) | 2 Prior Dui Charges Within 7 Years BAC Less Than .15 (3A Dui) | 2 Prior Dui Charges Within 7 Years BAC Greater Than .15 or BAC Refusal (3B Dui) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jail | 1 day to 364 days; with 24 hours consecutively served. | 2 days to 364 days; with 48 hours consecutively served. | 30 days to 364 days | 45 days to 364 days | 90 days to 364 days | 120 days to 364 days |
| Fine | $940.50 to $5,000 | $1,195.50 to $5,000 | $1,195.50 to $5,000 | $1,620.50 to $5,000 | $2,045.50 to $5,000 | $2,895.50 to $5,000 |
| Electronic Home Monitoring (EHM) | May be available in lieu of 1 day jail, but must do 15 days on EHM. | May be available in lieu of 2 days jail, but must do 30 days on EHM. | 60 days required in addition to jail time. | 90 days required in addition to jail time. | 120 days required in addition to jail time. | 150 days required in addition to jail time. |
| Driver's License Suspension | 90 days *Talk to your dui attorney about an ignition interlock license. | 1 year revocation or 2 year revocation if BAC Test Refused. *Talk to your dui attorney about an ignition interlock license. | 2 year revocation | 2 year revocation or 3 years if BAC test refused. | 3 year revocation | 4 year revocation |
| Ignition Interlock Device | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Substance Abuse Evaluation and Treatment | As determined by the court. | As determined by the court. | As determined by the court. | As determined by the court. | As determined by the court. | As determined by the court. |
| Additional Issues | SR-22 Insurance (High-Risk), Probation, Probation Costs, Court Fees.... | SR-22 Insurance (High-Risk), Probation, Probation Costs, Court Fees.... | SR-22 Insurance (High-Risk), Probation, Probation Costs, Court Fees.... | SR-22 Insurance (High-Risk), Probation, Probation Costs, Court Fees.... | SR-22 Insurance (High-Risk), Probation, Probation Costs, Court Fees.... | SR-22 Insurance (High-Risk), Probation, Probation Costs, Court Fees.... |
**Please Note That This Dui Penalty Grid May Change—Make Sure To Discuss With You Spokane DUI Lawyer.**
Warning: You Must Request A Hearing From The Department Of Licensing Within 20 Days of Your Arrest. If you don’t your license will be automatically suspended. Talk to a your dui lawyer about this issue immediately. This is an entirely separate matter from your court case. There are actually 2 ways the State can take your Washington driver’s license.
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What Does the State or City Have To Prove To Find Me Guilty of Driving Under The Influence or Physical Control?
Washington Dui Law (in general):
A person is guilty of driving under the influence, if that person drives a vehicle in the State of Washington: and (1) that person has a BAC of .08 or higher within 2 hours of driving; or (2) drives while affected by or under the influence of any liquor or drugs…. (RCW 46.61.502)
To prove physical control the government generally has to prove the same issues as dui. However, they do not have to show that you were driving, but rather that you had the ability to drive or control the vehicle.
Washington Dui Facts
Washington Dui Fact #1: Just because your BAC test or blood test was not performed within two hours of driving does not prevent the state from showing that you were driving under the influence. A state technician may be allowed to extrapolate a BAC result taken after 2 hours to the time of driving.
Washington Dui Fact #2: You can be charged and potentially convicted for a Washington Dui even if your BAC or blood test shows results under .08. This is what is commonly called the “affected by prong”.
Washington Dui Fact#3: It is an affirmative defense if you can show that you drank after driving a vehicle, but before being tested.
Washington Dui Fact #4: A dui is generally considered a gross misdemeanor in Washington, unless you have 4 or more prior offenses within 10 years. If you have 4 or more in 10 years it is considered a felony. This is what is being called a “felony dui”. There are other prior crimes that can turn a dui into a felony dui charge. For example, a previous conviction for vehicular homicide or vehicular assault while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Call Now For Your Free Hour Right Now! 509-362-9540
Washington Dui Fact#5: You can get a dui in Washington for being under the influence of prescription drugs. It does not matter whether they are prescribed or illegal for purposes of a dui. A person may also be charged under the “affected by prong” for the combined influence of drugs and alcohol.
Washington Dui Fact#6: A person under 21 years of age can be charged with dui if thier BAC is .02 or higher. This is commonly known as a “baby dui”.
Washington Dui Fact#7: It is a defense to physical control, if you can prove that you were “safely off the roadway“. This is as you may have guessed known as the “safely off the roadway defense.”
Spokane Dui Court Process: Here’s A Map So You Understand The Terrain.
- Arraignment: At this stage you should be entering a plea of “not guilty” and the court will set release conditions and possibly bail. It’s best to have a lawyer here.
- Pre-Trial Conferences: Think of these as scheduling conferences. At these hearings the court wants a status update. 3 general things happen at a pre-trial hearing: (1) you continue the case to a new future date; (2) you set your case for trial; or (3) you enter a new plea (negotiated settlement).
- Motion Dates: Sometimes your dui lawyer will set motion dates. This is basically how we ask the court to do something. For example, dismiss the case, suppress evidence, or alter pre-trial release conditions.
- Trials: If you get to this stage, you are exercising your constitutional rights and making the government prove their case against you. Investigate your dui lawyer’s trial skills training. Just because someone has been trying cases for years–doesn’t mean they have been using effective methods.
- Appeals: If you are at this stage a jury has found you guilty or a judge has made an unfavorable ruling against your case. This is where you take the issue to a higher court and have them review the lower court’s actions.
Finding A Dui Lawyer in Spokane: It’s Handy To Have An Experienced Guide On Your Trip.
Warning Signs
- Attorney has been cited for misconduct by the state bar association.
- They offer the cheapest retainer. What corners are being cut at your expense?
- General practice attorneys who are dabbling in criminal law. One does not “dabble” in criminal law. I would not let someone “dabble” with my future or freedom, because let’s face it–jail sucks, and I don’t want to be a “test” case.
- Lawyer gives you an absolute promise on results. In most cases, especially when you are just getting started on a case, it is almost impossible to guarantee a result. You should be very skeptical of any promised outcomes. If they are bold enough to make these promises—get them in writing (then watch the look on their face when you ask for this and get ready for an excuse—then leave). A good dui lawyer should give you a range of possibilities based on their experience.
- Scare Tactics: lawyers that cite maximum dui penalties and worst case scenarios. Again, a seasoned professional dui lawyer is going to discuss minimums and maximums. You should get a balanced and realistic picture of your risks.
- Lawyers that do all of the talking. They may solve Dui cases, but you need them to solve YOUR DUI case. To do that they must listen and then offer you advice. You should leave the meeting with a rough plan or strategy.
Good Signs
- A Spokane Criminal Defense Attorney that focuses on local criminal defense and Dui cases in Spokane.
- A dui lawyer in Spokane that has meaningful training beyond law school. I mean training that is not just the mandatory minimum requirements in Washington. A law degree is just the beginning. You want someone who isn’t just getting by. Every professional that gives a darn about their craft constantly trains and improves their skills.
- A Spokane Lawyer that maintains membership in relevant criminal defense organizations. This shows that they know what is going on in their field. Believe me—that matters to you.
- A good amount of criminal trial experience and advanced trial training.
- Awards and industry recognition.
- The attorney actually lets you talk and listens to what you have to say.
- Leaves you with some sense of a plan or strategy for your case.
- Goes over your options, explains your risks, and tells you based on their experience what consequences you are really likely to face (not just maximums and minimums).
Action Legal Group’s Lawyers Are Rated As “Superb” and “Excellent” By AVVO.com.
Call Now For Your Free Hour Right Now! 509-362-9540
What Should A Dui Lawyer in Spokane Do For Me: Some Guides Are Better Than Others.
Here are the 4 basic things that Spokane Attorneys can do for you:
- Get your case dismissed.
- Negotiates a different but lesser charge for you.
- Take your case to trial.
- Protects your future. Yes, there are hidden consequences to every decision. Your dui lawyer should help you make the right decisions for your particular needs.
The process of a criminal defense attorney/dui lawyer in Spokane generally breaks down like this:
- Listen and analyze your individual situation. Cases may be similar, but never the same.
- Understand your particular goals and needs.
- Find all viable options and present them to you.
- Educate you on your available options.
- Execute your chosen options to the best of their ability.
I’ve simplified this to avoid boring you to tears. You can bet that a lot more goes on behind the scenes that you will likely never see or realize. That really doesn’t matter as long as you get results.
Call Now For Your Free Hour Right Now! 509-362-9540
Issues You Should Discuss With Your Dui Lawyer:
- Why you were stopped? This is vital information for your Spokane dui lawyer. You see in a dui there are two different sets of probable cause (the legal reason for stopping you or arresting you). If the police officer did not have a legitimate reason to stop you, we can generally fight your case very effectively. Also if the officer lacked probable cause to arrest you for dui in Spokane, we can generally effectively fight your case. **Why am I hedging here? Years of experience and hundreds of court hours of watching judges give the prosecution a “little leeway” here and there.
- Discuss any medical conditions. These may have affected field sobriety tests or BAC tests. Let the dui lawyer decide if they matter or not.
- Any past dui arrests. Even if they were in other states. Any dui within the past seven years can greatly change your risk. More importantly, it may change our strategy. Take this advice—it’s not good to surprise your lawyer with new facts late in the game. All information is confidential between you and your lawyer. Believe me if you are talking to a seasoned criminal defense attorney it is unlikely that you will surprise or shock them.
- Potential favorable and unfavorable witnesses with actual knowledge of the events. Memories fade and evidence disappears. Your case might actually be getting worse. Delay can be the death of an otherwise winnable case.
- Your expectations and goals. It’s important to make sure that your dui lawyer is able to meet your expectations and goals.
- Your options and proposed strategies. Sometimes this is not possible, but you should know why, and what information the Spokane Attorney is waiting for, before they can develop a strategy on your case.
- Your concerns and questions. There are no stupid questions if they are causing you worry. It’s just better to put them to rest.
Call Now For Your Free Hour Right Now! 509-362-9540
Why Are We Different?
#1 Our Training: we have gone to great lengths to become excellent criminal defense lawyers. We continually train and hone our skills. Our work has not gone unnoticed and our lawyers have great industry recognition. (See below to learn more about the dui attorneys.)
#2 Our Philosophies: people’s lives should not be destroyed over simple mistakes. We also believe in treating you as a person and not just another client. You will also notice that we are not a “high-volume dui firm”.
#3 Our Options For You: because of our beliefs in equal justice and fairness for all people, we have created many unique and valuable options so that you can have an effective dui attorney in your corner every step of the way.
Spokane Dui Legal Costs: How Much Is All This Going To Cost Me?
A dui in Spokane is generally going to cost $997.00 to $4,500.00. The average seems to be around $1,500.00 give or take a few hundred. Dui legal costs really depend on the complexity and various other factors with your dui case. We are just like any other contractor. We have to sit down and get all of the facts to give you a reasonable estimate.
Typically, Action Legal Group will provide you with a fixed flat fee for your dui in Spokane. It’s unwise to hire someone hourly, because you never know how much you will be spending. Any Spokane Lawyer that claims to be a dui lawyer in Spokane should be able to reasonably estimate time and costs. If not, how many Dui matters have they really dealt with? FYI—we have helped many people just like you over the years. We also offer various payment plan options that seem to work well for most people in your situation.
Call Now For Your Free Hour Right Now! 509-362-9540
I Want To Know More About These Dui Lawyers:
Senit Lutgen
- Washington Super Lawyers recognize him as a Rising Star 2010.
- Spokane Best Lawyers 2009
- Avvo.com rates him as “Superb”
- 2009 Graduate of the Trial Lawyer’s College
- Gonzaga University School of Law
Deanna Crull
- Former Spokane Prosecuting Attorney
- Avvo.com rates her as “Excellent”
- 2009 Graduate of the Trial Lawyer’s College
- Gonzaga University School of Law
Call Now For Your Free Hour Right Now! 509-362-9540
Action Legal Group 505 W. Riverside Suite 598, Spokane, WA 99201 (509)362-9540