DUI

If You Are Looking For A DUI Attorney in Bellevue, Washington and Surrounding King County? Peters Associates Can Handle Your DUI Case.

Being arrested for driving under the influence is very serious, especially in Washington. Our state has some of the toughest DUI laws and consequences in the country. These can be devastating times for individuals as they find themselves in financial and legal hardship and are unsure of where to turn next. Give yourself the best possible chance in court-hire a Bellevue DUI lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the law.

Peters Associates, LLC has extensive experience handling DUI cases in King County, Washington and can guide you through the legal process. Our team will sit down with you to go over your charges and determine the best approach to take for your defense. We’ll do all we can to help you avoid or minimize the jail time, administrative suspension and heavy fines that DUI brings in Washington state. Contact Peters Associates to get started on your defense.

What Constitutes a DUI Charge in Bellevue, Washington?

In the state of Washington, a DUI charge can occur when an individual is found to be in actual physical control or operation of a motorized vehicle with a blood alcohol content level (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. This number drops to 0.04% in cases where the alleged offender is in operation of a commercial vehicle, such as a semi-truck, and 0.02% if the individual is under the legal drinking age of 21.

These can be complicated legal proceedings, as there are many factors that could be at play in a DUI case. Likewise, if this is your second, third, or fourth DUI conviction within the span of seven years, the penalties can increase in severity. This is why it is vital that you hire an attorney who is skilled in the practice area of DUI law. Whether you are a commercial truck driver, an underage individual, or a person operating a regular vehicle, you need an attorney.

Peters Associates, LLC: Defending Your Rights in a DUI Case

Since 2005, the attorneys at Peters Associates, LLC, have been assisting clients facing a wide range of DUI charges. We understand the laws and legal proceedings that are often involved in these cases, and we can work to determine the most favorable course of action to take in your defense. From the moment we speak about your case in your initial consultation, you can rest assured that the team at Peters Associates, LLC, will be supporting you during this difficult time.

At Peters Associates, LLC, our team can work to build you a solid defense that can stand up against the prosecution in any negotiation or litigation scenario. We can review the police reports, any dashcam footage or surveillance videos, collect physical evidence, and speak with any eyewitnesses who may be able to assist in your defense. Using this evidence, we can craft a defense that is tailored to the unique needs of your case.

We can also help you by taking the following actions:

• Defending your rights, future, and freedoms against a devastating DUI charge.
• Working to reduce the charge to a lesser driving-related charge, such as reckless or negligent driving, so that the record may be expunged in the future.
• Fighting to protect your driving privileges.
• Appearing at all court proceedings to represent you and your interests.
• Raising certain constitutional challenges against the prosecution’s alleged evidence against you.
• Aggressively negotiating with the prosecution to seek a reduction or dismal of the charges brought against you.
• Defending you against other DUI-related charges such as boating under the influence, marijuana DUIs, prescription medicine DUIs, vehicular assault, or vehicular homicide.

Whatever your DUI case might entail, the attorneys at Peters Associates, LLC, are here to help and are prepared to do everything in our power to fight for your protection under the law.

Know the True Cost of Driving Under the Influence

Think one night of drinking and driving isn’t anything to worry about? Think again. The state prosecutors take their jobs and these charges seriously. The punishments you can face as a result of a conviction can be life-altering and extremely devastating to your legal rights, but also to your personal and professional reputation. If you are convicted of a DUI charge in Bellevue, Washington, you could be subject to:

• Jail time
• Fines
• License suspension
• Electronic home detention
• Probation
• SR-22 Insurance
• The loss of certain professional certificates and licenses
• Harm to your personal and professional reputation
• Difficulty maintaining or finding employment
• The loss of your federal right to vote or bear, own, or purchase a firearm if your DUI comes with a felony conviction

These and other penalties demonstrate why it is so important that you hire an attorney who understands the laws that pertain to these cases and can seek a reduction or dismissal of the charges against you.

Factors That Can Impact the Resolution of Your DUI Case

There are several factors that can influence how your DUI case gets resolved in Washington. The most important of these factors is the reason the arresting officer made the arrest in the first place. In Bellevue, you can be arrested for a DUI simply if an officer suspects you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol while behind the wheel of a vehicle. Other factors that can impact the resolution of DUI a case include the following:

• Any reckless driving you might have done while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• If there was any smell of drugs or alcohol present at the time of your arrest
• If you were speeding or engaged in any other traffic violations while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• If you had any slurred speech at the time of your arrest
• If you lost physical control of your vehicle due to the impairment caused by drugs or alcohol
• If you failed a field sobriety or other chemical test at the time of your arrest

Your DUI defense attorney can look over these factors and make a determination on whether or not their presence in your case will impact your charges and the final outcome of your case. Without an attorney, you may be uncertain of how your case will progress, which is why it is so important that a legal professional is there every step of the way to counsel and represent you.

What Happens Following a Bellevue DUI Arrest?

If you find yourself arrested and charged with a DUI in Bellevue, the right thing for you to do is fully cooperate with the police and remain calm. They will take you into their custody and bring you to their station, where you will be formally booked in their system. This process usually includes having your photographs and fingerprints taken and giving the police any personal information they might request from you.

During this time, it is important to remember that you have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any of the police officers’ questions or make statements about the incident until your attorney arrives. When you are given the opportunity to contact legal counsel, it is imperative that you take it and do not try to represent yourself, as this can negatively impact your case.

Once your attorney arrives at the station, follow their directions and trust what they say. They have your protection and interests as a top priority. You may then be able to request a DMV or administrative hearing, depending on what your attorney believes would benefit your case the most.

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