Monthly Archives: March 2022

Can Your Seattle Ticket be Reduced?

SQ Attorneys

As luck would have it for those financially challenged, the Seattle Municipal Court is now offering hearings for low-income people who cannot afford to pay their court debt for overdue infraction fines and fees. The hearing permits for an opportunity to explain a person’s financial situation and ask that their fines be reduced and/or removed… Continue Reading »

Does Washington Follow the ‘Stand Your Ground’ Doctrine?

Under the law, we are generally allowed to defend ourselves when threatened by another person, but self-defense laws vary with each jurisdiction. For example, some states have “stand your ground laws” while others require a person to retreat before using force. There are also some states that combine these two ideas by following the “castle… Continue Reading »

What Cameras?

SQ Attorneys

Bus lanes, bus lanes, bus lanes … avoid those bus lanes. In three Seattle corridors there will be a price to pay if one elects to enter the bus lane because there is now a new camera-enforcement program and it just may spread citywide. The cameras went live earlier this month and are located on… Continue Reading »

Can My Gun Rights Be Taken Away with a D.V. Case?

SQ Attorneys

Victims of domestic violence are often times threatened by a perpetrator through the use of guns and other deadly weapons. The Lautenberg Amendment, known as the Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, amended the Gun Control Act of 1968 to prohibit anyone convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor from possessing a firearm. While state domestic gun… Continue Reading »

What is Seattle’s High Utilizer Initiative?

SQ Attorneys

The times are a-changin’ in Seattle, as the new Seattle City Attorney – Ann Davison – is getting down right aggressive coming out of the proverbial gates; her office has formed a partnership with both the King County Jail and the Seattle police to reduce, and even eradicate, repeat offender crime. The effort is encapsulated… Continue Reading »

Is an Alcohol Assessment Required for My DUI?

Upon being charged with a Driving Under the Influence case, an alcohol evaluation could be required by the Court. Sometimes, as part of a suspended sentencing arrangement or condition of probation, a judge may order DUI offenders to attend programs to educate them about alcohol dependency and the consequences of DUI. Alcohol assessments are usually… Continue Reading »

A Love Letter Ban? Not so Fast.

SQ Attorneys

Although not on the topic of criminal defense, it is still a point of topical interest – a federal judge blocked Oregon’s ban on homebuyer ‘lover letters,’ as it potentially infringes upon first amendment protections. What is a homebuyer lover letter? It is a letter or a note that a potential homebuyer writes to a… Continue Reading »

What is a Theft in Washington ?

In the State of Washington, there is no difference between shoplifting and theft, unlike in some other states. Therefore, if you take something from a store in Washington, you’ll be charged with theft and the specific charges and penalties will depend on the property value of the merchandise involved. Most of the shoplifting cases fall… Continue Reading »