Lynnwood & South Snohomish County DUI Defense

~Free Professional Case Evaluation~
by a local LYNNWOOD DUI LAWYER (425) 488-8481

National College of DUI Defense

There are many reasons why obtaining the services of an experienced DUI defense attorney as soon as you can after your arrest is crucial if you have been arrested for or charged with a DUI. First, while most DUI charges in Lynnwood are gross misdemeanors (a criminal charge that carries a possible punishment of 365 days in jail and a $5000 fine), DUIs are the most politically charged offenses in any Municipal or District Court. The word “DUI” can stir the emotions of the general public as much as murder and rape. Drivers charged with DUI often feel like the judges, prosecutors and juries consider them guilty until proven innocent. In fact, DUI may be the only criminal charge where you presumed guilty by law and you must then prove your innocence. Federal funding of local Lynnwood DUI enforcement programs, like “Target Zero” and the extremely influential Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) have created strong political pressures to aggressively prosecute every DUI case.

DUI is also one of the most frequently litigated criminal offenses in the Lynnwood court system. Unlike most misdemeanors, if you are convicted of DUI you are subject to mandatory jail and fines, and significant jail time is a real possibility. If you are convicted (or if you plead guilty), you may lose your ability to drive for months or years. The judge must also impose mandatory conditions, such as alcohol treatment and installation of an Interlock Ignition Device.  You may also be subject to years of reporting to a probation officer or other intrusions which invade your privacy and your freedom (and your wallet, too). People with a DUI conviction on their record can have trouble obtaining employment, professional licenses (doctors, lawyers, nurses, accountants, financial Series licenses, etc.), a security clearance, and a DUI conviction will prohibit you from entering Canada for years or forever.

Within every DUI stop, investigation and arrest there are many issues which are regularly the source of litigation and appeals to the Washington State Appellate Courts and the Washington State Supreme Court.  This results in a body of law that is constantly evolving and in turn creates new debates and new defenses. To give you the best chance of a positive outcome on your particular Lynnwood DUI Case you need an experienced DUI attorney who is immersed in this area of law on a daily basis. Would you go to a heart surgeon who had done only a single bypass operation in the last year or have your taxes done by an accountant who does not deal with tax law on a regular basis? More importantly, the State has experienced attorneys and expert witnesses on its side; shouldn’t you?

Occasionally DUI charges may be charged as felonies (crimes with possible punishments of more than a year in prison and very severe fines). If someone died or was seriously injured as a result of a DUI you could find yourself facing felony charges. Felony DUI charges may also be filed if have a prior conviction for felony DUI, vehicular homicide, vehicular assault or four DUIs within the past ten years. Conviction of a felony may cause you to permanently lose your right to vote, to own a handgun and to serve on juries or gain meaningful employment. The fines are much higher, probation more stringent and prison time you face may be years for a felony DUI (or “DUI-related”) convictions.

Many prosecutors feel it is their duty to get drivers suspected of committing DUI offenses off of the streets, even before guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Because of this, self-representation in a DUI case is a recipe for disaster. On the other hand, a seasoned DUI attorney can often secure the most advantageous outcome by employing strategies based on years of experience with DUI cases just like yours.