If you are stopped in Tacoma or elsewhere in Pierce County on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), one of the first questions you may face is: Do I have to take a breathalyzer test? Many drivers wonder whether refusing the test will help them avoid a DUI conviction. The truth is more complicated. […]

If police stop you in Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, or anywhere in Pierce County for suspected driving under the influence (DUI), you may face this critical question: Do I have to give a blood sample if they ask? The answer is not always simple. Washington law handles blood draws differently than breath tests. Officers must follow […]

Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common criminal charges in Washington. For many people, a DUI arrest is their first experience with the criminal justice system. Understandably, the biggest question defendants ask is: What is the most common sentence for a first DUI in Washington? While the exact outcome depends on […]

A DUI in Washington is a serious criminal charge with lasting consequences. However, not every DUI charge ends in a conviction for driving under the influence. Depending on the facts, your history, and the prosecutor’s discretion, a DUI may sometimes be reduced to a lesser charge. In Tacoma, Pierce County, and across Washington State, the […]

Driving under the influence (DUI) in Washington is a serious criminal charge under RCW 46.61.502. Most DUI arrests in Washington are charged as gross misdemeanors, but under certain circumstances a DUI can be elevated to a felony. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony DUI depends on your prior record and the details […]

Many people believe domestic violence charges only apply when someone is physically hurt. In Washington State, that is not the case. Domestic violence is not a single offense. Instead, it is a legal label attached to certain crimes when they involve an intimate partner, family member, or household member, according to RCW 10.99.020(4). This means […]

Anyone with a criminal record may be worried about an employer learning of that record and possibly terminating their employment because of it. If you were convicted of driving under the influence long ago or arrested for a DUI recently, will your employer find out? Employers sometimes learn about DUI arrests through word of mouth […]

Assault Charges in Washington: What You Need to Know about Fear (Apprehension) In Washington, you can be convicted of assault even if no one is touched or physically hurt. Fear alone — if proven beyond a reasonable doubt — can be enough for the State to win a conviction. This makes assault one of the […]

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 […]

Domestic violence isn’t one specific charge in Washington, but rather specific criminal conduct against an intimate partner or family or household member, according to RCW 10.99.020(4). Sometimes, these offenses are misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors, while other times, domestic violence offenses are charged as felonies. One of the most common domestic violence offenses in Washington is […]