DUI Attorney Serving Vancouver
Experienced Defense in Your Washington DUI/DWI Matter
For many people, getting arrested for a DUI or a DWI may be their first brush with the law, and they are unprepared for how to respond to the charges and unaware of how much of an impact the penalties for a DUI/DWI can have on their finances, careers, and even freedom. A driver who finds himself suddenly charged with a DUI/DWI may hope to simply explain his way out of the charges and get back to normal, but Washington state takes such charges extremely seriously, and attempting to go it alone can simply make matters worse. Vancouver attorney John Lutgens can help you fight your DUI or driving with a suspended license charges and/or minimize the impact. He has over 20 years of experience in representing clients across southwest Washington charged with DUI or driving with a suspended license, and he will put his experience to work for you in getting your life back to normal as quickly and painlessly as possible.
The Consequences of a DUI in Washington
Anyone operating a car with a .08% blood alcohol content (BAC) or higher in Washington can be found guilty of DUI. For commercial drivers, the BAC threshold is .04%, and for drivers under 21, the BAC threshold is only .02%. Drivers face the following penalties:
- First Offense: between 1 day and 1 year in jail; fines and penalties of up to $5,000; and a mandatory license suspension between 90 days and 1 year
- Second Offense: between 30 days and 1 year in jail; fines and penalties of up to $5,000; and a mandatory license suspension between 2 years and 900 days
- Third Offense: between 90 days and 1 year in jail; fines and penalties of up to $5,000; and a mandatory license suspension between 3 to 4 years
Courts may also require anyone charged with a DUI to install an Ignition Interlock device in their car at their own expense.
In addition, you must consider the reputational damage of a DUI conviction, which can become public knowledge. A conviction may prevent you from obtaining jobs in certain fields, and many employers may factor in DUI convictions in hiring and other employment decisions. Furthermore, other interested parties may be able to access your conviction history.
Get Professional Defense in Your Washington DUI/DWI Matter
Attorney John Lutgens has been protecting clients charged with impaired driving and driving with a suspended license in courtrooms throughout southwest Washington since 1992. He will put his many years of experience in defending DUI defendants to work for you in developing litigation strategies (including attacking the constitutional grounds for the vehicle stop and/or the sufficiency of the evidence presented against you) to either dismiss the charges or obtain the outcome with the least impact to your legal, financial, and reputational interests.
Contact Vancouver DUI Attorney John Lutgens to See How He Can Help You
If you are currently charged with a DUI or need assistance with recovering your driving privileges in Washington, contact Vancouver DUI attorney John Lutgens today at 360-693-2119 to set up a free consultation.