In 2023, there were 21,895 DUI charges in Washington. Of these charges, 5,958 were dropped, and 9,709 were reduced or amended. Although you might stand a good chance of having your DUI charges reduced or dropped altogether, this is only possible with the best defense.
What are the Best DUI Defenses?
The best DUI defense is different for each person, depending on the circumstances of their charges.
That said, there are some general “best practices” to remember.
Hire an Experienced DUI Attorney
An experienced DUI attorney will be familiar with the complexities of DUI law, DUI procedures, and Washington state court practices.
Check their track record. Look for a lawyer with a proven history of winning DUIs. Are there reviews? Testimonials? Results?
Understand Your Rights and the Legal Process
Knowing the legal proceedings for DUI in Washington will also help you better understand your case from the arraignment to the trial. Your attorney will walk you through the whole process.
Gather and Preserve Evidence
Write down everything that happens to you, from your arrest (date, time, and location) to law-enforcement interaction, field sobriety tests, breathalyzer, and/or blood test results.
List witnesses who can provide information about your behavior, arrest, or other matters.
Challenge the Evidence
Depending on the circumstances of your case, your lawyer might be able to challenge the evidence against you in several ways.
For example, if the traffic stop violated your Fourth Amendment rights – if it lacked probable cause – then any evidence garnered as a result may be inadmissible. Your attorney can fight the admissibility of the evidence at trial.
Explore Defense Strategies
Washington DUI laws change often, and in 2024, the Legislature made it easier to convict a person of a felony DUI under House Bill 1493.
However, they also expanded an already popular sentencing alternative to allow for an offender convicted of a felony DUI to avoid or reduce their prison term.
DOSA (the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative) is another fixture in the law that allows a court to sentence someone to treatment instead of prison.
Note that this alternative is only available to a person convicted of a felony DUI offense if they have no prior felonies.
Stay Informed and Involved
You might consider taking a safe driving course or other relevant training to demonstrate your willingness to prevent this from happening again.
For some defendants, it also helps if you can show you’re serious about rehabilitating yourself if there are ongoing addiction issues.
Call a Top DUI Lawyer in Washington
Don’t give up if you have been charged with a DUI in Washington.
Your lawyer can build a strong defense case that could help you have your charges dropped or reduced.
Hire a top-rated DUI defense attorney in Washington for your case—call Phil Wakefield today.
