The Smith & White Blog

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 […]

What Are Alternative Means Crimes in Washington Law?

Some Washington crimes can be committed in more than one legally defined way. When a single statute describes one offense but lists multiple ways of committing it, lawyers often call it an “alternative means” crime. This matters because it affects how juries reach a verdict. It can also create appeal issues when the prosecution argues […]

Protection Order vs. No-Contact Order in Washington: What’s the Difference?

If you have been served with court papers or told you cannot contact someone, the first question usually isn’t legal vocabulary. It’s practical: what does this order actually do, how long does it last, and what happens if you get it wrong? In Washington, protection orders and no-contact orders can look similar on paper, but […]