A new DUI law took effect on August 1, 2012 in Washington State. The new law allows State Patrol troopers to have blood drawn from drunken driving suspects, even if they won’t give a blood sample voluntarily.
It is thought that this new law allows repeat drunken driving cases to be handled as felonies from the time of arrest. A felony DUI carries a 5-year sentence, versus 1-year for gross misdemeanor DUI.
Dispatchers have been trained to check records and let troopers know when they have stopped a felony DUI suspect. Once informed, troopers transport the suspect to a hospital. Troopers don’t draw blood themselves; they use medical professionals at the hospital to assist them in collecting blood samples from suspected DUI driver.
As an example, last Sunday a blood sample was taken from a 30-year-old Port Orchard man after he was stopped for swerving in and out of traffic. Allegedly records showed it was his fifth DUI in 10 years, making it a felony DUI.
Because of the significant implications a DUI arrest and/or conviction can have, it is imperative that a person charged with DUI in Washington State immediately retain a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer or a qualified Bellevue DUI lawyer. In many instances, a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer can significantly reduce the impact that a DUI charge will have on an individual’s life. The right Seattle DUI attorney will be worth his/her weight in gold when protecting a person’s rights, freedom and future. The Seattle DUI attorneys that make up the litigation team of SQ Attorneys are dedicated to defending those accused of drunk driving. They have the experience, knowledge and resources to successfully defend your case. Unlike other law firms that practice in many areas of the law, SQ Attorneys is focused on criminal defense representation with an emphasis on DUI defense in Western Washington.
If you or a loved one is faced with a DUI charge in Western Washington, you deserve the assistance of a reputable and qualified Seattle DUI attorney who will relentlessly defend your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI lawyer who has an intimate understanding of Washington DUI laws and the legal issues that could win your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI defense attorney who is not afraid to stand up against the prosecution and aggressively fight for your rights and interests. SQ Attorneys is the right Western Washington DUI law firm for the job. Call for a free initial consultation – (206) 441.0900 (Seattle); (425) 998-8384 (Eastside) – it will be the best decision you make all day.
