DUI / DWI Cases

Defending clients in the Olympia, Tacoma, and Pierce County areas

Washington State has very strict penalties for drunk driving. In an effort to win more convictions, the state recently lowered the legal limit of blood alcohol to 0.08%.There is also has an Implied Consent Law, which states that if you drive, you have agreed to take the breath test, and if you refuse to take it, your license will be suspended or revoked for at least one year.

If you get stopped

• The officer will ask you to take the roadside breath test.
• This roadside test is not mandatory; but the test at the police station on the DataMaster machine is mandatory. If you refuse this test your license will be revoked for at least one year.
• The arresting officer will give you a notice and a Hearing Request form. The best way to improve your chances of fighting this automatic license suspension is to send the request for an administrative hearing to the Department of Licensing (DOL), along with the $200 fee, within 30 days.
• It would be wise to also contact a DUI attorney right away, because the law regarding taking or not taking the breath test is complicated.

If the officer punched a hole in your license

• This means that your license will now expire in 60 days. And within that 60-day period, the DOL will move towards revoking or suspending your license, based on the officer’s report.
• If you fail to send in the Hearing Request form or send it in too late, the DOL will suspend or revoke your license, even if you’re found innocent of the DUI charge.
• Contact a DUI attorney as soon as possible to make sure you don’t miss any deadlines that will affect your license to drive.

Field sobriety tests

These are not mandatory. Some of these tests are:

• One leg stand – the officer asks you to stand on one leg for about 30 seconds, without swaying, hopping, or using your arms to balance.
• Walking the line – the officer asks you to walk for 9 steps along a visible straight line such as a curb. You must touch your heel to the other toe as you step. You must keep your balance, stay on the line, take the right number of steps, and refrain from using your arms to balance.
• Horizontal gaze nystagmus test – the officer holds an object in front of your face and moves it to observe whether your eyes exhibit nystagmus (involuntary jerking movements)

Challenging a breath test or blood test

• Contrary to popular belief, these tests are not 100% foolproof. A DUI attorney who’s well acquainted with the DUI laws could bring either law or science to bear on them for a challenge.
• When administered they must meet required standards set by NHTSA. There are technological problems with the breath machines. A judge or jury can legally disregard these tests if they feel any doubt about their validity.

You can obtain your own breath test to challenge the police test, and this is usually done in a hospital emergency department. Also, a good defense lawyer will know of experts who can testify as to physiology and breath tests.

At the Lane Law Firm, we offer you a free DUI case evaluation. You will get the help you need, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Our DUI defense team will start working on your case the moment we represent you.

Our unique process gives you immediate and unlimited access to a representative from the firm who will work with you in developing a proactive strategy to help you avoid jail and defeat the charges against you.

You need an aggressive, experienced DUI defense lawyer working for you now. Find out more about our Criminal Cases, and the Lane Law Firm Criminal Process. Contact Us today!

Click Here for a FREE CONSULTATION !