The Smith & White Blog

Do You Automatically Lose Your License After a DUI in Washington State?

Being arrested for driving under the influence may have more immediate effects on your life than you anticipated. You might even temporarily lose your license before going to court to face DUI charges in Washington, unless you act quickly enough to schedule a hearing with the Department of Licensing (DOL), and that hearing goes in […]

How Domestic Violence Charges Affect a Job or Professional License in Washington

Domestic violence charges can be intimidating and humiliating, but your situation may be even more precarious if your professional license is on the line. Many professional licenses come with a certain code of conduct. When a license holder is criminally charged, their license may be in jeopardy. If you have a professional license, it is […]

What Happens if Police Find an Unregistered Gun in Your Vehicle in Washington?

There is no central state registry for firearms in Washington State, so all guns are effectively “unregistered.” However, you may be in trouble if your gun is untraceable, and the state has no information connecting you to the firearm. If the police find such a firearm in your car, you should call a lawyer for […]

Can a Felon Ever Restore Gun Rights in Washington?

When a person is convicted of a felony in Washington State, they may lose their right to own, possess, or carry a firearm. This condition is permanent unless your rights are later restored. While restoration is possible for some, it is not an easy process, and you should consult a lawyer. To restore your gun […]

What Are the Penalties for Possessing a Stolen Firearm in Washington?

The laws surrounding firearms are complicated even at the best of times. If you are charged for allegedly having a stolen firearm in your possession, you should call a lawyer for help immediately. You do not have to steal a firearm to be charged with the possession of a stolen firearm. Purchasing or otherwise obtaining […]

When Can Police Legally Frisk You in Washington?

If you’re stopped by police in Washington, you might assume they can’t search you without a warrant. But that’s not always true. Under certain circumstances, officers can legally frisk you—even if you haven’t done anything obviously wrong. What a Tacoma Gun Case Reveals A recent appellate decision, State v. Graham, shows just how quickly these […]

When Does an Injury Count as Substantial Bodily Harm in a Washington Assault Case?

In Tacoma, WA assault cases, a broken bone can be enough to support a felony charge because a fracture usually qualifies as substantial bodily harm under state law. But that does not end the analysis. Prosecutors still must prove that the accused caused the injury, and that is often where the real fight happens. In […]

How Civil Protection Orders Work in Washington State

Most people dealing with a civil protection order are either trying to get protection quickly or trying to make sense of papers they did not expect. A civil protection order is a civil court order, not a criminal no-contact order. In Washington, civil protection orders are now handled under chapter 7.105 RCW, but local Pierce […]

Is a No-Contact Order Automatic After a Domestic Violence Charge in Washington?

In many Washington domestic violence assault cases, a judge will issue a criminal no-contact order very early in the case. But it is not automatic in the strict sense. It is still a court order, which means a judge decides whether to issue it and what the terms will be. For most people, the real […]

How to Avoid a DUI in Washington State

Practical Steps to Avoiding a DUI in Washington: What Actually Helps Most DUIs don’t start with a plan to break the law. They start with a night that runs long, a ride that falls through, and a decision made at the worst possible time. If you want to avoid a DUI in Washington, the goal […]