Compassionate Counsel Passionate Defense
In Washington, in order to convict a person of driving while under the influence of alcohol, the State must offer evidence sufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. While the State can use circumstantial evidence to meet this burden, it cannot rely on...
In many instances in which the police suspect a motorist is operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, they will administer a breath test. Breath tests are only admissible if they are conducted in a certain manner, however. For example, they may be...
Washington courts rely, in part, on the convicted party’s offender score when determining sentences for people convicted of crimes under Washington law. Following recent changes in the law, such scores cannot include juvenile adjudications, but as discussed in a...
Under Washington law, the penalties for DUI crimes increase with each subsequent offense. Similarly, a 3rd or subsequent court order violation (both protection orders and no contact orders) can raise that allegation to the level of a felony. Notably, prior offenses...
Q: Can I legally refuse to take a breathalyzer or field sobriety test during a DUI stop in Washington? A: Yes, you can legally refuse these tests, but it's important to understand the consequences. Washington's "Implied Consent" law means that by driving, you've...
In Tacoma, Washington, it is unlawful to operate a vehicle while impaired due to alcohol, and anyone who does so may face criminal charges. In most instances, the State will possess direct evidence that a person charged with a DUI crime was operating the vehicle while...
In order to convict a person for a Tacoma Driving Under the Influence (DUI), the prosecution must demonstrate that the person operated a vehicle with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit or while under the influence of an intoxicant. To do so, the prosecution...
