Seattle DUI Defense Lawyer

Penalties for a DUI Conviction in Seattle, WA

If you are facing DUI charges in Washington, it’s important to hire an experienced Seattle DUI attorney you can trust to defend you in court. If you’re found guilty and convicted of driving under the influence, you will be sentenced to a number of DUI penalties. The penalties for a DUI conviction in Washington include:

1^st DUI Conviction and a Breath Test below .15

Jail: 1 day (or 15 days of electronic home monitoring)
License suspension: 90 days
Fines: No less than $350 (plus other court fees and expenses)
Probation: Up to 5 years
Mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment
Ignition interlock device for 1 year

1^st DUI Conviction and a Breath Test above .15 or Breath Test Refusal

2 days in jail (or 30 days of electronic home monitoring)
License suspension: 1 year
Fines: No less than $500 (plus other court fees and expenses)
Probation: up to 5 years
Mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment
Ignition interlock device for 1 year

2^nd DUI Conviction and Breath Test below .15

30 days in jail and 60 days of electronic home monitoring
License Suspension: 2 years
Fines: No less than $500 (plus other court fees and costs)
Probation: up to 5 years
Mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment
Ignition interlock device for 5 years

2^nd DUI Conviction and Breath Test above .15 or Breath Test Refusal

45 days in jail and 90 days of electronic home monitoring
License Suspension: 900 days (3 years for a breath test refusal)
Fines: No less than $750 (plus other court fees and costs)
Probation: up to 5 years
Mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment
Ignition interlock device for 5 years

3^rd or 4^th DUI Conviction and Breath Test Below .15

90 days in jail and 120 days of electronic home monitoring
License Suspension: 3 years
Fines: No less than $1,000 (plus other court fees and costs)
Probation: up to 5 years
Mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment
Ignition interlock device for 10 years

3rd or 4th DUI Conviction and Breath Test above .15

120 days in jail and 150 days of electronic home monitoring
License Suspension: 4 years
Fines: No less than $1,500 (plus other court fees and costs)
Probation: up to 5 years
Mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment
Ignition interlock device for 10 years

Enhancement of DUI Penalties

The penalties for DUI may be enhanced if the driver:

Drives drunk with a minor in the vehicle
Has a BAC higher than .15
Causes a DUI accident
Drives drunk on a suspended or revoked license
Commits his or her 5^th DUI offense or more

A penalty enhancement can include more time in jail or prison, larger fines, more hours of community service, permanent or extended driver’s license suspension, extended probation, more years of a required ignition interlock device, and restitution (if applicable).

Contact a Seattle DUI Attorney at Garvey Law Offices

To increase your chances of avoiding these penalties, as well increased insurance premiums and other consequences of a DUI conviction, it’s in your best interest to obtain highly trained and aggressive legal counsel right away. At Garvey Law Offices, we have been defending people against DUI charges for many years, and understand what it takes to build an effective DUI defense case. Armed with the knowledge of the strategies and tactics of our opponents, the Seattle DUI lawyers at our firm have shouldered the burdens of countless clients and achieved spectacular results. We protect our clients’ freedoms and rights at all costs, and do everything we can to reduce our clients’ charges to a lesser offense, or motion to have the charges thrown out completely.

To discuss your case with a Seattle DUI attorney who is truly committed to helping you avoid a conviction, please don’t hesitate to contact a Seattle DUI Lawyer today at (206) 387-4500.