Defense for DUI Cases in WA

At DUIHeroes, our team of Washington DUI lawyers have been defending individuals against their DUI charges for many years, and we fully understand what it takes to secure successful outcomes for our clients. We proudly serve individual facing DUI charges throughout Washington State, including clients in Snohomish County and King County, including in cities such as Lynnwood, Arlington, Marysville, Lake Stevens, Everett, Bothell, Monroe, Mukilteo, Edmonds, Oak Harbor, Kirkland, Olympia, Issaquah, and Woodinville. We know being charged with a DUI, you are afraid and frustrated, and our goal is to alleviate these feelings helping you come to a beneficial resolution in your case and in your life.

DUIHeroes represents Washington drivers facing charges related to the following:

• Marijuana DUI & DUI & Drugs
• Felony DUI & Multiple DUI Offenses
• DUI Accidents
• First Time DUI & Second DUI Offense
• Out of State DUI
• Minor DUI
• BUI
• Hit & Run
• Reckless Driving & Reckless Endangerment
• Vehicular Assault & Vehicular Manslaughter

What Is the Legal BAC Limit in Washington?

Blood alcohol content (BAC) refers to the amount of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream and can be detected quickly after consumption. Washington State considers a person to be affected by alcohol and driving under the influence if their BAC is 0.08 or higher within 2 hours of driving. Washington needed a numerical limit to take away the subjectivity of being “affected” by alcohol while driving, so they ultimately set the per se limit at 0.08. This means any person who has a BAC limit of 0.08 or higher is automatically “affected” by alcohol and can be prosecuted for driving under the influence. 

In Washington, there are variants in this per se BAC level depending on factors such as the following:

• Adult Drivers – An adult driver operating a non-commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is considered legally intoxicated and may be charged.
• Commercial Drivers – Commercial vehicle operators may be found legally intoxicated if their BAC is 0.04 or higher while driving the commercial vehicle.
• Drivers Under 21 – Drivers who are under the age of 21 are not legally allowed to consume alcohol, and therefore may be charged with Minor DUI if their BAC level is found to be between 0.02 and 0.08.

Just because your BAC level is below 0.08% doesn’t mean you can’t still be charged. Although 0.08 is Washington's “Per Se” BAC limit, a person can still be charged with DUI if they are shown to have been affected by consumption of alcohol in any appreciable degree, even below 0.08.  Additionally, adding in drugs or medication will create a situation where you can be charged with DUI based on multiple substances in your system. Ultimately the “limit” really serves as an illegal limit rather than a “legal” limit. Driving at 0.08 is definitely a violation, but below 0.08 might be, depending on the circumstances.  

DUI Penalties in Washington State

The penalties for an alcohol-related DUI can vary depending on many factors, including one's actual BAC, and the number of prior convictions. Typically, a DUI in Washington is charged as a gross misdemeanor. If you are convicted of a DUI, Washington judges are required to impose mandatory minimum sentences and cannot reduce them. In Washington, DUI penalties for a first-time offense include up to a year in jail, a $5,000 fine, and driver's license suspension. This is in addition to five years of probation, alcohol treatment, mandatory ignition interlock, SCRAM devices, CDL suspensions, WA SR-22 auto insurance, and more. Any of these penalties can be increased if the DUI resulted in the injury or death of another.

Let a Washington DUI attorney help you find peace of mind about your case and contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. The sooner we hear from you, the faster we can help. Call today at 1-800-DUI-HERO!