Under Washington RCW 46.61.504 (2), an intoxicated driver, who pulls safely off the roadway before being pursued by police, has an affirmative defense both at trial and at the Dept. of Licensing license suspension administrative telephone hearing. No matter how intoxicated a driver is, and no matter how bad their driving, an intoxicated driver who pulls safely off the roadway, before…

Many Washington State DUI arrests occur after a police stop for only a minor traffic infraction (speeding, failing to signal turn, improper lane change, etc.). After identifying the driver, and checking the driver license, vehicle registration, car insurance, and for arrest warrants, the driver must be released after issuance of the traffic ticket. Any further…

Martindale-Hubbell, the nation’s oldest lawyer rating service, has again awarded Lynnwood attorney Paul Hanson its highest lawyer rating for 2024. Its Peer Review Ratings section awarded attorney Hanson the 2024 AV-Preeminent Attorney rating. This highest rating is for both legal ability and ethical standards. Lynnwood attorney Paul Hanson has received this Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent Attorney rating…

Criminal Defense Lawyers Many Washington DUI arrests begin with a police traffic stop solely for swerving outside the driver’s lane of travel. Washington police rely on RCW 46.61.140 (1), the Washington Unsafe Lane Travel statute, as their legal justification for making such traffic stops late at night of suspected drunk drivers. However RCW 46.61.140 (1)…

Recently Lynnwood attorney Paul Hanson had a client who needed to remove three (3) old drug related criminal convictions incurred years ago while she was addicted to drugs. She had since completely overcame her drug problem and was now trying to get a better job in the medical field. Unfortunately, her old drug convictions were…

Lynnwood attorney Paul Hanson has once again been honored with Martindale-Hubbell’s “AV-Preeminent” rating, its highest rating for lawyers in both legal ability and ethical standards, Martindale-Hubbell is a national lawyer rating organization which has rated practicing American lawyers for over 100 years. Attorney Hanson has received its annual “AV-Preeminent” rating award for the last 13…

Lynnwood criminal defense attorney Paul Hanson and his paralegal Golden Heistand were recently recognized by the Snohomish County District Court (South Division) in Lynnwood for their efforts in organizing and presenting the court’s Mock Trial for over 800 local fifth graders, teachers, and parents. These Mock Trials were part of the Court’s 34th annual Law…

Removing old criminal convictions and expunging old police arrest records can really help people. It makes getting a good job or renting a good apartment / house much easier. Whenever an employer or landlord runs a criminal background check nowadays, more and more old criminal histories and criminal records turn up. Even stuff from over…

stSince July 16, 2021, a new DUI defense has existed in Washington State for DUI for cases occurring before November 6, 2022. On July 16, 2021, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Breath Test Division admitted that its police Draeger breath test instruments used in Washington DUI cases were not properly calculating their average breath test…

Washington Misdemeanor Case Court Proceedings – Part Two (Click Here) Continued from Part One,  posted on August 23, 2022 Trials are held if the case does not settle after the pretrial or motion hearings, the charge is not dismissed or if no guilty plea is entered. In Washington, misdemeanor Defendants have a choice of either…