DUI Attorney Tacoma WA- How to Beat A DUI Conviction

The state of Washington takes DUI offenses very seriously. A violation of this sort can set you back for months and possibly years. The current laws that have been put in place are strict. Thanks to an organization called the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) every state in the United States has a zero-tolerance policy for driving over with an alcohol level over .08%. The state of Washington, including the city of Tacoma, are no exception.

Dealing with a DUI without the services of a local DUI attorney in Tacoma is not only foolish but will prove to be a mistake that will be highly debilitating during the next three years. These attorneys only concentrate on DUI cases and the expertise can aid you in either receiving a lesser sentence or total dismissal.

Before I go into a DUI attorney in the state of Washington can do for you let me outline the current penalties for driving under the influence while operating a motor vehicle.

First, there is mandatory jail time up 24 hours. If you're off a whole level is over .15% the mandatory jail time is 48 hours. This is nonnegotiable. If you have never seen to jail cell, and you get a DUI, they'll soon change.

Second, you will be fined anywhere from as low as $350 to as high as $5000. The fine is totally dependent on the judge hearing your case.

Third, your driving privileges were suspended for a minimum of 90 days and if you have any priors your driving privileges can be suspended for up to four years. Again this is dependent upon the judge hearing your case.

A fourth thing that happens to you when you get a DUI has nothing to do with the state of Washington but is still a direct result of you getting a ticket of this nature. Your car is towed when you get stopped for DUI and the cost for getting your vehicle out can be outrageous. In addition to this, whenever and if, you get your driving produced back you will need as SR22 insurance. This type of auto insurance is not cheap and can be anywhere from 50-100% more than what you were previously paying.

So considering this, why do you need a DUI attorney if you get caught driving under the influence in Tacoma WA (or any other state in Washington).

Like I previously said these attorneys have specially geared their minds to fighting these types of cases. Because they specialize in this field they are familiar with or ways they can either lessen your punishment or get your sentence totally abolished. They go on the offensive and here are the four ways they can get you a "hot water."

A cop cannot stop you unless they have a valid reason. This doesn't just apply for DUI's but anything else. It is absolutely illegal for cop to just stop you on a whim. Maybe you ran a stop sign, maybe ran around like, or maybe you were driving recklessly. These are valid reasons. Keep in mind though that these reasons are highly subjective. What a good DUI lawyer Tacoma WA will do is make any reason that the stop you seem frivolous.

In addition, when a cop stops you in the state of Washington he must have reasonable suspicion and probable cause to give you DUI test. The suspicion is also subjective. He cannot give you a DUI test because you had a bandanna on her head, or because you were wearing baggy jeans, or because you had a souped-up car. There is not reasonable suspicion he cannot give your breath test. Again, an expert DUI lawyer will attack the cop's motivation and reason for even giving you the breath test in the first place.

Third, before a top in Tacoma Washington or any other place in the state gives anyone a DUI breath test they must consent to it. A police officer must fully explain to you the consequences of taking a breath test and refusing a breath test. As in criminal cases having to do with your amendment rights are options must be clearly stated and it must be proven that you understood them. If the DUI lawyer can prove that the consent warning was given incorrectly the breath test is invalid. Any results that were produced from it must be thrown out.

The last angle this type of attorney will take is attacking the way the breath test was administered and if it was accurate. There is no machine on earth that is 100% right all the time. It has been proven by scientific studies that breathalyzer test can be wrong. So a DUI attorney will try to do is prove that the test was unreliable or malfunctioning at the time.

These are the four angles and experienced attorney that handles the DUI cases in Tacoma Washington, and the rest of the state, will go for. For you to get a DUI in this state the reason for the police officer stopping you must be valid, he must have reasonable cause for giving you a breath test, you must consent to the breath test, and it must be administered correctly by a perfectly functioning machine.

When you think about DUI citations along these lines you can see how easy it is for an experienced lawyer who specializes in these cases to get them thrown out. Your average person cannot do it. They are not equipped with in-depth knowledge of the laws and the terminology to effectively fight their cases.

Attorneys that deal with the DUIs are not usually cheap. Not the good ones anyway. You'll end up spending a couple thousand dollars for them to fight your case. Their winning percentages are quite high. It amazes me that more people do not use them when they are in this particular type of bind.

Not fighting your DUI charge at all or trying to save money by not employing the services of an attorney is not only a wise course but one I will hunt you for a long time. If you are convicted of driving under the influence in the state of Washington it is projected that the overall cost will be $15,000. Keep in mind that this is just an average. You should do your utmost to avoid these types situations. But like any other criminal or civil conviction it is your right and duty as an American to get the proper legal advice and services.