Pierce County, Washington, nearly lost a 25-year-old sheriff's deputy to a drunk driving accident. Sydney Davis suffered a broken neck when her patrol car was hit by a suspected drunk driver in April 2018, placing her in critical care. As Pierce County DUI crashes grow, year by year, the public is pushing law enforcement and lawmakers for stronger, tougher DUI laws.

Washington Traffic Safety Commission reports 256 fatal crashes in 2016, the highest number in a decade. Washington State Legislature finally enacted a law making the fourth DUI a felony in Washington. Before this change, the felony standard had been among the weakest in the nation. The fact is, many in Washington believe this still falls short of what is needed to reduce DUI crashes and deaths each year.

Proposed DUI Law Changes

One controversial change is to seek more training for police to enable them to draw blood from DUI suspects. More laws also are needed to hammer out specific rules for police on how and when they may use this training. A program like this was introduced in Lakewood last year, making this community a front-runner in the practice. Officers there are trained and certified in phlebotomy; any of these specially-prepared officers can bring suspects to the station for blood draws, circumventing hospitals and their own rules.

What New Laws Mean for Drivers

Other controversial proposed law changes, such as lowering Washington's legal blood alcohol content (BAC) from .08 to .05, could mean big changes for drivers if they are enacted. As deaths continue to rise on Washington roads, tolerance for alcohol-related crashes weakens. Those who wish to have a few drinks and then get behind the wheel will have a slimmer margin of legality when pulled over. Police are specially trained to spot behaviors consistent with drunk drivers. Yet drivers also have rights and often, because of public pressure, law enforcement become overzealous and arrest innocent people for DUI. There is still hope for a person who is arrested with a BAC at the legal limit, and even when their BAC is over the legal limit. Experienced Washington DUI attorneys know how to help drivers who are charged with DUI. There are many ways to help someone beat their drunk driving charges.

Steve Karimi and his team of attorneys are uniquely positioned to help Washington drivers beat their DUI charges. He has the mind of a prosecutor and now puts his years of experience to work for people fighting for their future. A DUI conviction could shake the foundation of your life. The good news is, we can help you get past these charges and move on with your life. Call us today to schedule your consultation.