Posts by Paul
New 2015 DUI Laws
New 2015 DUI Laws Effective September 26, 2015, several new DUI laws go into effect. Among these are: Ignition Interlock Licenses (IILs) – The Department of Licensing is now permitted to issue temporary Ignition Interlock Licenses (IILs) to Washington residents authorized to drive with out of state licenses. This will mostly affect military personnel stationed…
Read MoreBreathalyzers in Bars –
More than 100 bars in Western Washington have installed new breathalyzer machines in recent weeks. The machines are part of a new project by a retired construction manager. Bob Brazel says his machines come pre-calibrated and are supposed to be 95% accurate, but he wants to make it clear that law enforcement is the only…
Read MoreBoating Under the Influence "BUI"
Washington State law has recently increased penalties for a BUI (Boating Under the Influence). A BUI is now a Gross Misdemeanor, and if you are convicted you can face up to $5,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. Boat operators are held to the same standards as a motorist and can be…
Read MoreSpeeding Ticket "Hot Spots"
Speeding remains the most ticketed highway violation around the Puget Sound. The violations are concentrated to very specific areas you could call ticket “hot spots”. Troopers admittedly target areas known for trouble to reduce fatal accidents, but why specific miles within those target areas see a sudden spike in ticket activity is less scientific: An…
Read MoreHOV Ticket Price Increase
Beginning this month, the cost of a HOV (carpool lane) violation ticket has increased to $136. The WSP says that HOV violations are the number one citizen reported driving violation, with an average of 80 calls and emails each day. Since 2012 the number of HOV violations has increased by 77%. Through May of this…
Read MoreTrial Victory in a Driving While License Suspended 2° case
Yesterday I won a Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) 2nd Degree trial because the Prosecution failed to provide it’s key driving record evidence to the defense before the trial started. That is a serious violation of the court rules and the rules of evidence. Yet people defending themselves without a lawyer, and even some defense lawyers sometimes,…
Read MoreLaw Day 2015
On Friday, June 5, 2015 I helped the local court present its annual Law Day presentation for over 800 fifth graders of the Edmonds School District. This was my 29th year doing this. It is a lot of work, but a labor of love. It has grown from 60 kids in 1987 to over 800+…
Read MoreLynnwood DUI Attorney Paul Hanson – Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer
Attorney Paul Hanson is pleased to announce his recent selection as one of the Top 100 Criminal Defense lawyers in the State of Washington for 2015 by the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA). Only 1.5% of criminal defense lawyers are so honored each year. Congratulations Paul!
Read MoreA DUI stop and your Miranda rights in Lynnwood
You really do have the right to remain silent if you are stopped by police in Lynnwood or even any other city in Washington State.. As cliché as this may sound, it really is 100% true. An arresting officer can ask you as many questions as they want but never feel compelled to answer anything.…
Read MoreProposed Lane Splitting in Washington
Motorcyclists are pushing House Bill 1515, which would allow “lane splitting”. That would mean a motorcycle could drive in between cars when traffic was congested. The proposed law says that traffic as a whole must be going no more than 35 miles per hour and the motorcycle could only go 10 mph over that. The…
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