(360) 876-1879 A charge for Driving Under the Influence and subsequent conviction could and likely, will negatively impact your rights and liberties. For instance, you could lose your driving privileges and do jail time, and the consequences of a conviction are even worse for persons with previous DUIs.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, consider speaking with a well-versed criminal defense attorney sooner rather than later. An experienced Kitsap County DUI lawyer could help you navigate the legal process and local court system.
Law Enforcement must establish probable cause to pull you over for a traffic stop.
Drivers should not answer any questions related to their substance use or driving, as the officer will use this information as evidence to establish probable cause for arrest. Instead, individuals should remain silent and politely refuse to answer the officer’s investigative questions until you’ve had the opportunity to speak with a lawyer.
An officer may ask a motorist whom they suspect to be driving while impaired to complete a field sobriety test. A motor vehicle operator is not required to perform a field sobriety test and may decline to do so. Law enforcement officers use field sobriety tests to establish probable cause and arrest a driver for a DUI.
A driver can make it more challenging for prosecutors to convict them by not performing a field sobriety test. There are three types of field sobriety tests: the walk-and-turn, the one-leg stand, and the horizontal gaze nystagmus.
Additionally, motorists under suspicion of driving while impaired should decline to take a portable breath test, or PBT. Like the field sobriety test, a PBT is voluntary and can be used to establish probable cause for an arrest. This is separate and different then the breathalizer test given at the police station or jail once the arrest has been made. A skilled Kitsap County attorney could review the evidence in a defendant’s DUI case and help them avoid jail time.
A DUI conviction can have serious consequences that could affect someone’s employment and interpersonal relationships. Specifically, the court can impose the following penalties for operating a motor vehicle on public roads while impaired:
The penalties associated with a conviction can vary depending on several factors, such as any prior offenses and the defendant’s level of intoxication at the time of arrest. Washington has mandated minimum sentencing guidelines for DUI’s as well. In addition to court-imposed penalties, a person convicted of DUI may face difficulties obtaining specific professional licenses, renting a car, or securing employment. A steadfast DUI attorney on our team could prepare a compelling case to ensure the best outcome for the defendant.
The sooner an accused driver contacts a DUI lawyer, the more time the lawyer will have to prepare defense tactics. A knowledgeable Kitsap County DUI lawyer could help get your charges dismissed or reduced. Let us help you defend your license and keep a DUI off your record. Contact us today to discuss potential defense strategies.
Jeniece LaCross, Attorney At Law
