Seattle DUI Defense Lawyer

Have you been arrested for a first time DUI offense in Seattle? If so, call The Law Offices of Steve Karimi right away. There is important information that you need to know. For example, you only have 20 days after a DUI arrest to request a DMV hearing. If you miss this window, you will face automatic license suspension after 30 days. Even first time DUI convictions can have serious penalties, but an experienced attorney knows how to defend you. As soon as you are arrested for DUI, call us for a free consultation.

For many people, a DUI arrest is their first time in trouble with the law. They may be concerned about their futures and afraid of what consequences they face. A first time DUI conviction in Washington can lead to jail time, community service, probation, license suspension, steep fines and more. In addition, your auto insurance rates will increase and your criminal record will be marked. The best way to avoid the negative penalties of a DUI is to fight the charges.

The Seattle DUI Process

The DUI process begins with you being arrested. A police officer will stop you by pulling you over or stopping your car at a checkpoint. If the officer suspects DUI, you will be asked to take a field sobriety test. It is important to note that you can decline taking a field sobriety tests with no consequences. Next, the officer will likely ask you to take a chemical sobriety test. These tests involved taking either a blood or breath sample and using it to measure your BAC. If your BAC is over the legal limit, you will be arrested for DUI.

After the arrest, you will be taken to jail and will need to pay bail before you can be released. Once released, you should contact a DUI lawyer right away. Your attorney will get to work requesting a DMV hearing to save your license and going over your case. Your first court appearance will be at your arraignment. This is your chance to enter your plea. You should always plead ‘not guilty' at an arraignment. Entering a ‘guilty' plea will take away all of your negotiating power and leave you at the mercy of whatever the judge decides to sentence you with. Your plea can always be changed to ‘guilty' at a later date if you and your lawyer agree that it is a good idea.

The final step of the DUI process is the trial. At The Law Offices of Steve Karimi, we strive to get our clients the best possible results. In some cases this means taking your case all the way to trial, but many times your attorney can get your charges reduced or even dismissed. An attorney can also get a pleas bargain where the prosecution agrees to give you a preferential sentence in exchange for changing your plea to ‘guilty'. This is beneficial for all parties because it saves time and energy and you know exactly what penalties you are getting.

First Time DUI Penalties in Washington

The penalties for a first time DUI conviction in Washington vary depending on the circumstances of your case. If you have not been convicted of a DUI crime in the past 7 years or a DUI related felony in the past 10 years, you will be charged with a gross misdemeanor and sentenced according to the following guidelines as per RCW 46.61.5055:

• Low BAC (Under 0.15%)
  
  • A minimum of 24 hours of incarceration and a maximum of 364 days
  • A fine of $350 - $5,000
  • 90 days of license suspension

• High BAC (015% or more)
  
  • A minimum of 48 hours of incarceration and a maximum of 364 days
  • A fine of $500 - $5,000
  • 1 year of license suspension

• Refused a sobriety test
  
  • A minimum of 48 hours of incarceration and a maximum of 364 days
  • A fine of $500 - $5,000
  • 2 years of license suspension

First Time DUI Defense Attorney

There are many areas of DUI law that can also apply to a first time DUI arrest. You can be charged with causing an accident due to driving under the influence. If you are under 21, you can also be charged with Minor in Possession of Alcohol or underage DUI. If you have children in the car at the time of your arrest, you can face child endangerment charges as well. If you have been arrested for DUI in any of these situations or for simply driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, an attorney can help you. Call us now for a free consultation.

Attorney Steve Karimi is dedicated to his clients and providing them with the best possible legal care. He cares not only about your results, but also about your life and how a DUI arrest will affect it. Attorney Karimi understands that good people make bad decisions and will never make you feel like a criminal even if you believe that you are guilty. Regardless of the evidence, a solid defense can be made for almost every DUI case.

We begin each case by examining the circumstances surrounding your arrest. If any mistakes were made, this can be used to fight the charges. Next, we challenge the evidence against you such as the validity of the sobriety test results. Attorney Steve Karimi has a deep understanding of Seattle criminal law and knows how to find creative ways to defend your case. He genuinely loves his work and takes pride in building strong defenses. Call now to get started!