Snohomish County Marijuana DUI Attorneys

Fighting Marijuana DUI Charges in Washington

In the past, “DUI” usually referred to driving under the influence of alcohol. However, Washington DUI law prohibits drivers from driving under the influence of drugs as well, including marijuana. Additionally, a motorist may be arrested for driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs. In the United States, it is unlawful in all 50 states to operate a car with a blood alcohol content (BAC) that equals or exceeds .08%, but law enforcement cannot use BAC testing to determine a driver’s level of marijuana impairment.

To eliminate this problem, Washington lawmakers developed a THC threshold to measure marijuana impairment. According to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) § 46.61.502(b), a driver is under the influence of marijuana when he or she has a blood THC concentration of 5.00 nanograms or more within 2 hours of driving. RCW § 46.61.502(c) states that law enforcement officers can arrest a driver for simply being "affected' by marijuana as well—even if the driver’s THC levels do not exceed 5.00 ng.

Suggested Reading:

• Federal Researchers Test How High is Too High to Drive
• Driving Under The Influence Of Marijuana During COVID-19

If you were arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana, you probably have a lot of questions. Will I go to jail? Do I need an attorney? What happens if I’m convicted? These are legitimate concerns with real answers—let a Snohomish County DUI lawyer help you answer them. At DUIHeroes, we exclusively practice DUI defense law, which gives us the insight and experience you need when you’re facing serious marijuana DUI charges.

Marijuana DUI Penalties in Snohomish County

Marijuana DUI is punishable by the same consequences as driving under the influence of alcohol. A first-time DUI conviction in Snohomish County comes with at least 24 hours of jail time, $990.50 in fines, a 90-day license suspension, and court-ordered DUI or drug education. Subsequent marijuana DUI convictions are punishable by even higher penalties.

If you have a prior DUI conviction, a second marijuana DUI conviction may lead to:

• A minimum 30-day jail sentence (up to 1 year in jail)
• A minimum fine of $1,245.50
• 2 years of driver’s license suspension
• Mandatory DUI or drug education
• Mandatory purchase of SR22 insurance

A third conviction is punishable by the following:

• No less than 90 days in jail (up to 1 year)
• A minimum fine of $1,970.50
• Driver’s license suspension for three years
• Mandatory DUI/drug education
• Mandatory purchase of SR22 insurance

Is Marijuana DUI a Felony or Misdemeanor in WA?

Though typically a misdemeanor, some circumstances of your arrest could prompt prosecutors to charge driving while high as a felony DUI. For example, if law enforcement believes that you drove under the influence of marijuana and caused the death of another person, you could face a vehicular homicide charge. According to RCW § 46.61.520(2), vehicular homicide is a class A felony, punishable by incarceration in a state prison, massive fines, and other penalties. Other factors include the presence of a minor in the car, injuries to third parties, and prior DUI convictions.

Turn to Snohomish County Marijuana DUI Attorneys

Few firms are as committed to DUI defense as we are. Founding Attorney Jonathan Dichter further studied DUI law after law school, became a member of the National College for DUI Defense, trained to defeat drug and marijuana DUI charges, and stays on the cutting edge of DUI technology and developments. He is also a qualified and trained instructor in DUI investigation and field sobriety testing, making him more of an authority on field sobriety testing than most police officers.

Our aggressive and knowledgeable approach to marijuana DUI charges has allowed us to get charges reduced or dismissed in 90% of cases. There’s simply no substitute for how much we invest into providing world-class, life-changing DUI defense, from researching the inaccuracies of breath or blood testing machines to understanding the myriad ways the police violated your civil rights without your knowledge. All that’s required of you is to call our firm as soon as possible to start building your defense.

To see how a Snohomish County marijuana DUI attorney can fight your charges, get a free consultation today at 1–800-DUI-HERO.