Help of a Burien Drunk Driving Attorney

Have you been arrested for drunk driving in Burien? If this is your first criminal charge then you are probably wondering what is next. Below are some of the frequently asked questions Burien DUI attorneys find themselves answering. For answers about your drunk driving charge in Burien, call our Burien DUI lawyer today!

HOW CAN BE BAC BE SO HIGH IF I DID NOT DRINK THAT MUCH AND DID NOT FEEL IMPAIRED?

The answer to this question is a bit complicated. Your body “sees” alcohol as poison. As soon as your body detects presence of alcohol, it begins to remove it. Alcohol concentration in your body begins to rise when you are drinking alcohol faster than your body is burning it.

There are many factors that can affect a person’s BAC level.

THE OFFICER DID NOT TAKE ME TO JAIL AFTER THE ARREST, WILL THE JUDGE HAVE ME BOOKED AT THE ARRAIGNMENT?

In Washington State officers have discretion whether to book a driver for DUI or not. Generally speaking, the officer will release you if you do not have an extensive criminal history and you were polite with the officer.

There is still a chance that you will get booked at the arraignment. However, this is unlikely if the officer did not book you at the time of arrest. But it is always worth having a Burien DUI lawyer with you at every court hearing.

Do not wait to speak to an attorney about your DUI charge. Contact a Burien DUI lawyer today!

IS THERE A PROBATION PERIOD FOR DUI CONVICTIONS?

Yes. If you are convicted for drunk driving, you will be placed on 5-year probation. During that probation you will be required to have no criminal law violations, not drive without valid license or insurance, obtain an alcohol and drug evaluation, and comply with recommended treatment.

WILL A BURIEN DUI LAWYER REDUCE MY DUI CHARGE TO A LOWER CRIMINAL CHARGE?

That depends. Prosecutors and courts throughout Washington State are becoming less and less lenient when it comes to drunk driving charges. So today is tougher than ever to get prosecutors to agree to reduced charges.

Whether a driver’s drunk driving charge can be reduced to a lower criminal charge depends on many factors. The most decisive factor is the strength of the prosecutor’s case against you. It is important to contact a qualified Burien DUI lawyer as soon as possible to discuss the weaknesses of the prosecutor’s case against you.

For information about your particular case, speak to a Burien DUI lawyer today at (206) 771-4343

WILL I BE ABLE TO EXPUNGE MY DUI?

Burien DUI attorneys come across this question all the time. There are several myths floating around about “expunging” and “DUIs” so we thought it would be important to address them here.

First, let us talk about what “expunging” a record really means. It means removing information relating to an arrest from a law enforcement record. Washington State laws allow for only non-conviction records to be expunged. Common examples are dismissal at pre-trial or “not guilty” verdict at trial.

So you cannot expunge any criminal law convictions, not only DUI.

The next question is “can you have your DUI vacated?” Vacating a conviction is requesting the court to remove the conviction and have the charge dismissed.

Some offenses, including DUI, are not eligible to be vacated. Unfortunately, if you are convicted of DUI, you will not be able to vacate it off your record. This is another reason to have an experienced Burien DUI lawyer on your side.

If you have additional questions about your drunk driving charge, call us today at (206) 771-4343

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